Group reiterates call for int'l expert to lead probe into Beng Hock's death

Summary

• Group wants police to accept Teoh Beng Hock's family's demand for an international criminal investigation expert to lead the probe into the former political aide’s death.

• Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement chairperson Ng Yap Hwa emphasises that a new approach is needed as 15 years of injustice is too long.

Activists have urged the police to accept the demand for an international criminal investigation expert to lead the probe into Teoh Beng Hock's death.

Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement chairperson Ng Yap Hwa repeated the call from the former political aide’s family, adding that the police must conduct a thorough investigation independently and transparently.

"We need a new approach in finding truth and justice in Teoh’s case, as 15 years of injustice is too long,” he told Free Malaysia Today.

Last November, Teoh's family urged the government to bring in international experts to aid the investigation so it can be completed within the six months stipulated by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

The group previously claimed that the police lacked the competence to conduct the investigation.

Ng's response today came after Bernama reported that Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said on Monday witnesses will be recalled for their statements to be taken after Chinese New Year.

Death in custody

Teoh was found dead on July 16, 2009, on the fifth-floor service corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after being questioned overnight at the Selangor MACC headquarters on the 14th floor.

At the time of his death, he was a political aide to Selangor executive councillor and DAP Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah.

In 2011, a Royal Commission of Inquiry determined that Teoh was driven to suicide following the anti-graft watchdog's aggressive questioning.

In 2014, the Court of Appeal unanimously ruled his death was caused by the act of “person or persons unknown”, including the MACC officers who questioned him before he was found dead.

Consider murder possibility

Ng said that the key MACC officers must be investigated and the police must consider all possibilities, including murder or culpable homicide.

“This is a death in the MACC's custody.

"The police must investigate the five key MACC officers under Section 302 or Section 304 (of the Penal Code),” he added.

Ng warned against the investigation taking a "business-as-usual" approach as the Attorney-General's Chambers had rejected investigation papers on the case eight times.

“This shows that something must be wrong,” he added.

Besides that, Ng said the government has been silent on the matter since Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met Teoh's family on Aug 1 last year.

When Anwar met Teoh's family, he announced that the police will reopen investigations into the man's death.

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