'Police tried to absolve MACC officers from liability'

The police wanted to "absolve MACC officers from liability" in the death of Teoh Beng Hock, said a lawyer, after the political aide's family was interrogated by the police at Kajang police station today.

Their lawyer and Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said statements were taken from Teoh's father, his older brother, the younger sister and also his two-month pregnant fiancee Soh Sher Wei.

Another lawyer, Eric Tan Pok Shyong said most of the police questions focused on the possibility that Teoh's death could not have been caused by the MACC officers.

"For example, they asked about Teoh's characters, if he had complained about work before he died, and tried to make a connection with his work and the possibility that he may taken his own life as a result," he said.

Teoh a non-smoker

"They also asked if Teoh was a smoker. I'm guessing the only reason they asked that was make an attempt establish that he may fallen accidently out of the window while smoking," he said.

However, Tan said the family members answered all their questions and denied any possibility of suicide.

"Also, Teoh was not a smoker," he said.

Teoh, who was Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah's political secretary, was found dead in the corridor on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam, last Thursday.

The 30-year-old was believed to have fallen from the MACC office located on the 14th floor.

He was being interrogated as a witness into allegations of misappropriation of Selangor state funds.

Teoh was buried last Monday in Semenyih. Police said that almost 60 percent of the probe into his sudden death was completed.

According to Lim, the family members were mindful of the questions posed by the police who wanted to know if Teoh was depressed, suicidal or had financial problems.

"But the family have denied all this. Teoh was joyful and had no problems at work. Teoh had no financial issues, got along well with everyone and was preparing for his wedding," said Lim.

Tan said that the police conducted the interrogation in a friendly and cooperative manner.

Family welcomes royal commission

"The whole procedure went smoothly and took about 90 minutes," he said. The police also asked family members when Teoh had contacted them last.

"He contacted no one immediately before the incident...because the fiancee, being the closest person to Teoh, said that she received no phone calls from him," he said.

Lim also said that the police had asked Teoh's fiancee one 'interesting question', whether he changed his shoes everyday.

This is in relation to the investigating officer's revelation that Teoh's shoes looked in shreds when his body was found.

"They asked if Teoh owned many shoes and what size he wore...the fiancee said that Teoh had several pairs and seldom changed them unless they were damaged, but on that fateful day, he wore a new pair," said Lim.

The family, said Lim, welcomed the government's setting up of a royal commission of inquiry today to get to the bottom of Teoh's death.

"Family members are happy and they hope the inquiry will start soon," he said.