DAP urges AGC to press charges in Beng Hock case

Summary

• DAP leaders urge the Attorney-General’s Chambers to reconsider its decision to classify Teoh Beng Hock’s death as “no further action” and pursue charges.

• The party backs Teoh’s family’s plan for a judicial review, stressing that the attorney-general must explain the rationale behind not prosecuting despite past court rulings.

• DAP maintains long-standing support for justice in Teoh’s case, amid criticism over alleged inaction from its own ministers.

DAP has urged the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to review its decision on discontinuing investigations into the 2009 death of Teoh Beng Hock.

DAP national chairperson Gobind Singh Deo and the party’s secretary-general Anthony Loke also said DAP supports potential legal action by Teoh’s family against the AGC’s move to classify the case as “no further action” (NFA).

“We have been informed that action is being considered to challenge the decision of the NFA in court by way of judicial review by Teoh’s family.

“We support this action and also call upon the attorney-general to review his decision and push ahead with charges against those responsible for Teoh’s death without further delay,” the duo said in a joint statement today.

They highlighted that while the police have a duty to investigate the case and identify alleged perpetrators, the attorney-general holds the power to determine whether charges are pressed.

As such, they urged Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar to state his reasoning behind the NFA, which was determined on May 19.

“The attorney-general and no one else has the discretion to prosecute under the Federal Constitution.

“He must explain why he is unable to do so in this case, particularly in light of the decisions of the Court of Appeal and civil proceedings in the High Court,” they added.

READ MORE: Will Teoh Beng Hock's case find closure under Harapan rule?

Stressing that DAP has consistently called for action against those responsible for Teoh’s death, they also pointed out that the party had previously provided legal assistance to the deceased’s family.

Call to resign

Last month, the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement had called for DAP’s five ministers to resign in protest, claiming that the party had failed to fulfil promises to seek justice for Teoh.

The five included Gobind, Loke, Nga Kor Ming, Steven Sim, and Hannah Yeoh.

On May 22, lawyer Ramkarpal Singh, who is also another DAP MP and Gobind’s brother, questioned the AGC’s decision, highlighting that it had failed to inform Teoh’s family directly, with the matter instead being relayed by the police.

READ MORE: Five unsolved mysteries about Teoh Beng Hock’s death

In 2009, Teoh, an aide to then-Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead after overnight questioning at Selangor MACC, headquartered at Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam back then.

A 2011 Royal Commission of Inquiry ruled he was driven to suicide due to aggressive interrogation, but a Court of Appeal decision in 2014 ruled his death was caused or accelerated by unlawful acts, including those of MACC officers.

On Nov 21 last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered the police to complete the investigation into Teoh’s death within six months after appeals court judge Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh allowed his parents’ judicial review application.

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