The sudden postponement of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) hearing into the death of Teoh Beng Hock could be to ‘plot’ to ensure that witness statements are “consistent”.

Beng Hock’s younger sister Teoh Lee Lan, who was present at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex on Jalan Duta this morning, said she suspects the RCI’s decision to postpone the proceedings to next week was an attempt to cover-up for the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC).

azlan Yesterday, MACC’s assistant superintendent Azeem Hafeez Jamaluddin admitted that there were instructions to cover up the role of his superior, Hishamuddin Hashim, in the investigation into the irregular disbursement of state funds.

Azeem had said that their orders were “to be consistent in statements to the police and also while testifying” during the inquest and at the RCI.

“I see that nobody in the MACC speaks the truth, (it’s) very obvious. If no one (had committed) murder, there would be no need for a cover-up. It was obvious during the inquest as well,” Lee Lan told reporters today.

Lee Lan accompanied Mandy Ooi, secretary to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who was supposed to testify before the royal panel today, along with lawyer M Manoharan.

Even reporters following the RCI proceedings since it began on Feb 14 were not informed of the sudden change in plans until this morning.

‘Witnesses done for the week’

The inquiry’s secretariat explained that today's hearing was put off because the inquiry has heard the testimonies of all the witnesses lined up for the week.

 

“We will wait and see if the government wants to find the culprit,” said Lee Lan.

azlan Teoh, political secretary to Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on July 16, 2009 sprawled on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam.

He was questioned overnight by MACC officers at its (then) Selangor headquarters on the 14th floor of the building, over claims of state funds misuse by his employer, Ean Yong.

Lee Lan also informed reporters that her older brother, Meng Kee, and her father, Leong Hwee, have been subpoenaed to testify before the inquiry next week.

She complained about her father having to travel from their home town in Malacca to testify.

It is understood that representatives from mobile service providers - DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd and Maxis Communications Bhd - are in a closed-door meeting with the panel of commissioners.

According to a source, the RCI is expected to wrap up its investigation by the second week of May and is expected to submit its report to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by June 25.

The commission is investigating both the cause of Teoh’s death and if there were any improprieties in his interrogation by the MACC.

Lee Lan and her family had opted not to take part in the RCI proceedings after the rejection of their application to postpone the inquiry until after the review of the coroner's inquest decision by the High Court in Shah Alam was disposed of.

An 18-month-long inquest into Teoh's death came out with an open verdict, ruling out suicide or homicide as the cause of his death.

The review of the inquest decision is expected to be heard on May 23.