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Cops' move to quiz MACC officers renews call for murder probe
Published:  Dec 19, 2019 4:35 PM
Updated: 8:47 AM

Teoh Beng Hock's family and friends want the police to bring those responsible for the former political aide's death a decade ago to justice.

Yesterday, federal police CID director Huzir Mohamed said 19 MACC officers would be summoned for questioning in relation to the case.

In a statement this afternoon, the Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy chairperson Ng Geok Chee welcomed the move but urged police to leave no stone unturned.

“We call on the police to actively search for evidence and identify the perpetrators who caused the wound on Teoh's neck and eventually killed him.

“The wound on Teoh's neck clearly indicated that the case has criminal elements and the police cannot only investigate along the line of wrongful confinement,” she added.

Ng also noted that in Sept 2014, the Court of Appeal overturned the open verdict by the coroner's court and ruled out the possibility of suicide or accidental death.

“The three judges unanimously ruled that one or more unknown persons caused the death of Teoh. The verdict was largely based on the pre-fall injury on Teoh's neck.

“Therefore, if the police refuse to probe the criminal elements in this case, it will be a violation of the rule of the law.

“We once again appeal to the police to look into the two police reports lodged by the organisation, as well as the Bar Council's RCI watch report.

“The 10 MACC officers named in the police reports should be charged for either murder or culpable homicide,” she added.

On July 16, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas (photo) instructed the police to reopen the case, which was classified as a sudden death report.

He ordered that the case be re-investigated under Section 342 of the Penal Code (wrongful confinement).

Teoh had served as political secretary to Seri Kembangan state assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah, who was then a Selangor executive council member.

Teoh was found dead on the fifth-floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam on July 16, 2009, after giving a statement at the former MACC office located on the 14th floor of the same building.

On Jan 5, 2011, the coroner's court ruled that Teoh’s death was neither suicide nor homicide.

This led to the deceased's brother Meng Kee filing an appeal against the open verdict, which was dismissed by the High Court on Dec 1.

Meng Kee filed a second appeal with the Court of Appeal on Feb 10, 2012, which later set aside the coroner's verdict.

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