RCI likely to probe suicide angle
The ‘mystery note' purportedly written by Teoh Beng Hock before his death is likely to be investigated by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI).
The ‘mystery note' purportedly written by Teoh Beng Hock before his death is likely to be investigated by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI).
According to the RCI hearing witnesses list, Shah Alam court's interpreter Ting Chin Kin and Chemistry Department document examiner Wong Kong Yong are among 36 individuals called to testify.
During the inquest into Beng Hock's death, Ting told the court that she had
translated
the ‘mystery note', which was handwritten in Chinese and Bahasa Malaysia, with the aid of online service Google Translate.
The note was found in a backpack by senior investigating officer ASP Ahmad Nazri Zainal at the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office where Beng Hock ( left ) was being interrogated before his death.
The note was later tendered as evidence during the inquest. The note purportedly contained Beng Hock's apology to his boss Ean Yong Hian Wah for information given to the MACC along with a "goodbye".
Wong testified during the inquest that the Bahasa Malaysia portion of the note was "written by the same person" when compared with cash vouchers provided by Ahmad Nazri.
However, he was unable to make a conclusion on the Chinese texts.
Homicide angle ignored?
Conspicuously missing from the witnesses list is renowned Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand (
left
), who famously concluded that there was a 80 percent chance that Beng Hock's death was due to
homicide
.
Also missing from the witnesses list was British forensic expert Dr Peter Vanezis , who was hired by the MACC for the inquest.
However, all local pathologists involved in the inquest were in the witnesses list.
Lawyer for Beng Hock's family Gobind Singh Deo ( right ) expressed disappointment that the RCI does not plan to call Pornthip as a witness.
"If we are not proposing to call her again, then why are we here?" Gobind asked the commission during the hearing today.
Asked if the RCI appeared inclined towards probing the suicide angle instead of a homicide angle, Gobind replied: "You decide".
Ex-housemate also called
A surprise entry in the witnesses list is Beng Hock's former housemate Esther Lee Swee Yong.
During the inquest, MACC prosecution head Abdul Razak Musa accused Beng Hock of having a relationship with Lee. However, this was denied by Beng Hock's wife Sor Cher Hui.
Sor clarified that Lee was merely Beng Hock's university senior and also his landlord.
MACC had sought to put Lee on the witness stand during the inquest in order to determine Teoh's mental condition prior to his death.
The 36 witnesses:
1. Siti Zabedah Yahaya
2. Mohd. Ridzuan Samsuri
3. Mohd Khairul Izwan Mohd Nasir
4. Abd Kareem Othman
5. MohdZulaimi Md Zuber
6. Mohd Zaidi Abu Hassan
7. Mazli Jusoh @ Che Kob
8. Sharul Othman Mansor
9. Zaraiha Awang
10. Saiful Fazamil Mohd Ali
11. Dr Seah Lay Hong
12. Dr Saravanan Kanniappan
13. Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim
14. Dr Prashant Naresh Samberkar
15. Dr Shahidan Md Noor
16. Mohd Anuar Ismail
17. Mohamad Azhar Abang Mentaril
18. Mohd Najeib Ahmad Walat
19. Arman Alies
20. Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus
21. Mohd Nazri Ibrahim
22. Bulkini Paharuddin
23. Raymond Nion Anak Johun Timban
24. Hirul llham Hamzah
25. Hishamuddin Hashim
26. Tan Boon Wah
27. Manoharan Malayalam
28. Ean Yong Hian Wah
29. MACC senior officer (unspecified)
30. Ahmad Shafik Abdul Rahman
31. Teoh Meng Kee
32. Esther Lee Swee Yong
33. Ting Chin Kin
34. Wong Kong Yong
35. ASP Ahmad Nazri Zainal
36. Dr Ba'diah Yahya


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