TBH Trust lodges police report against MACC officers

A police report has been lodged asking for ten MACC officers to be probed and charged for the death of the political aide Teoh Beng Hock ten years ago.

These officers were named for multiple offences in the police report, which was filed by the Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy at the Petaling Jaya police headquarters today.

"The Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador must investigate them for murder or culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy, abetment in covering up, fabrication and destruction of evidence.

"Last month, we and the family of Teoh were very unhappy because the police (decided) to probe the case under Section 342 of Penal Code for wrongful confinement," said TBH Trust spokeperson Ng Yap Hwa.

Attorney-General Tommy Thomas had previously told Teoh's family that this would not stop the police from probing the case under another provision, Ng added.

"Today, we presented all the evidence to the police," he said.

Ng (right in photo) said the police should not take more than 20 months to investigate the case since it was announced last June that the probe would be reopened.

Teoh was found dead in 2009, after being held overnight for interrogation at the then-Selangor MACC office in Shah Alam.

In 2014, the Court of Appeal overturned the coroner's open verdict on his death, and ruled that MACC officers had committed wrongdoing. None of these officers has since been prosecuted.

Last year, Putrajaya decided to reopen investigations, and police are now looking into the unresolved case under Section 342 for wrongful confinement.

In response, Teoh’s family and supporters have demanded that the case be probed for culpable homicide instead.

"The top cop may not know (in details) about this case, so we have submitted more evidence and judgements related to this case," he said.

Though acknowledging the royal commission of inquiry into Teoh's death only implicated three officers, Ng said the TBH Trust identified the additional seven officers based on submissions to the Bar Council at the time.

Lawyer Vince Tan, who accompanied Ng to lodge the police report, said recent developments showed that authorities – particularly the Home Ministry and the MACC – were pushing responsibility onto other entities.

"My client's action will send a very clear message – it doesn't matter whose responsibility it is, just get the job done. I am sure the family would want closure in this case," he said.

"It is the time for the government to take the next course of action, the ball is in the government's court. They have the enforcement agencies which can uphold the rule of law.

"I hope the media can ask questions to the home minister, the police, the MACC and those in power. They must do their work to gain the trust and confidence of the people."

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