DAP has lamented that instead of facing action for involvement in the death of DAP aide Teoh Beng Hock, one of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers is now Sabah MACC head.

On Sept 5 last year, the Court of Appeal ruled that Teoh's death was "accelerated by an unlawful act or acts" of persons inclusive of the MACC officers involved in Beng Hock's case.

"In his judgment, (Appeals Court judge) Ariff Md Yusof had even said that the inspector-general of police (IGP) must commence investigations while the attorney-general must frame the charges deemed fit.

"Six months have lapsed; the IGP should now answer the family and the concerned public. What have the police done to identify and charge the MACC officers who should be held responsible for the death of Teoh Beng Hock?

"While we are saddened by the fact that no one has yet to be charged for the death of Beng Hock, we note that one of the MACC officers who last interrogated Beng Hock, Hishamuddin Hashim, is now promoted as the director of Sabah MACC," Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching ( right ) said in a statement today.

Teo cited the current MACC's organisation chart that showed Hishamuddin, the former deputy director of MACC Selangor, to be the new head of Sabah MACC.

Some time after Beng Hock's death in 2009 and before the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) in 2001, Hishamuddin was first promoted to director of Negri Sembilan MACC.

Teo pointed out that the RCI into Beng Hock's death had singled out three officers, Hishamuddin, investigation officer Arman Alies and assistant investigating officer Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus, for their actions that had led to his death.

It was reported that following the RCI, in July 2011 the trio were suspended .

Beng Hock was found dead at outside the MACC Selangor headquarters on July 16, 2009, after a night of interrogation over a probe on his boss, Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah.

In July 2012, MACC chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed said recommendation for disciplinary action against the three officers would be sent to the agency's complaints committee "soon".

However, last November Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low confirmed that Mohd Anuar had been promoted from a Grade 44 investigation officer to Grade 48.

However, Low in his parliamentary reply to the Kulai MP at that time, said Hishamuddin and Mohd Ashraf remained at the same ranks (Grade 54 and Grade 29 respectively).

'Paul Low must answer'

Teo demanded that the minister and the MACC chief commissioner answer how Hishamuddin could head the Sabah MACC office when the Court of Appeal had ruled that Beng Hock's death was either "a result of or which was accelerated by" acts carried out by the said officers.

The RCI report, she said, clearly indicated Hishamuddin to be "arrogant" and the investigating officers as bullies and abusers.

"Not only that, commissioner T Selventhiranathan said on April 20, 2011, during the RCI into Beng Hock's death that Hishamuddin had lied when he earlier claimed ignorance of police reports against his officers that accused them of physical abuse," she said.

On April 27, 2011, Teo added, MACC assistant superintendent Azeem Hafeez Jamaluddin testified at the RCI that Hishamuddin had ordered him to testify that Hairul Ilham had led the probe, so as to cover up Hishamuddin's role in the investigation against Ean Yong.

"How can an officer of such quality be deemed fit to be the head of Sabah MACC?

"Paul Low and Abu Kassim owe us an explanation," Teo added.