The death of a Customs officer at a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office was reported to the police as “a suicide”.

"There is a suicide at the MACC office," MACC Assistant Superintendent Khalid Amir Meruphy Abdullah had told the police despatcher who took the emergency call.

The matter came to light in the testimony of despatcher Lans Koperal Mohd Puzi Othman of the Kuala Lumpur police control centre, who handled the call.

NONE Mohd Puzi is the 13th witness in the inquest into the death of Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamad (left) on April 6 at the MACC’s Jalan Cochrane office in Kuala Lumpur.

In a recording of the call which took place at around 10.40am, Khalid also said he had not observed the incident nor seen the body himself, but that he had been ordered to report it to police.

Mohd Puzi then passed the information to his immediate supervisor Koperal Nee Ahmad, who dispatched a squad car to the location.

The police unit arrived at the MACC office at 10.49am and reported in seven minutes later that medical personnel were already on scene and Ahmad Sarbaini had already fallen from the third floor of the building and was most likely deceased.

‘No coercion’

Next on the witness stand was assistant superintendent Mohd Rosli Mohd Saufi who recorded the late Customs officer’s cautioned statement on April 2.

He recounted how he was ordered to record Ahmad Sarbaini’s statement on the evening of the day before by senior investigation officer Zetty Juzianty Zainordin.

Mohd Rosli related that he then picked up the deceased and another detainee from the police lock-up in Bukit Jalil and proceeded to record his statement.

He arrived at the MACC Jalan Cochrane office at 10.45am and then chatted with the Customs officer for about half an hour.

After receiving documents from fellow officer Sheikh Niza Khairy Sheikh Mohamad at 11.45am, he then proceeded to record the deceased’s statement until noon.

He said that the suspect was cooperative and seemed normal and okay at that time.

Mohd Rosli also maintained, that the customs officer made the statement willingly and without coercion.

He also refuted suggestions from lawyer Awtar Singh, representing the deceased’s family, that the statement was prepared beforehand and Ahmad Sarbaini was made to sign it.

The inquest then broke for lunch and will resume after 2.30pm.

[More to follow]