Release CCTV recording of raid on Albert's home, lawyers tell MACC

Counsel for Albert Tei’s wife has demanded that MACC release the CCTV recordings confiscated by its officers during the raid last week on the businessperson’s home, without altering its content.

In a joint statement, lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh said MACC had admitted in its search list that the digital video recorder belonging to the CCTV unit was seized by balaclava-clad personnel.

“Unless and until MACC produces that footage, its denials are nothing more than a public relations exercise attempting to mask a severe breach of duty, accountability, and public trust,” they added.

On Nov 28, Tei’s wife, Lee Pei Rie lodged a police report claiming that MACC officers had pointed a gun at both of them during the raid earlier that day.

“One of those individuals realised my presence and pointed a pistol at me. At the time, I was holding my phone to record the incident because I was concerned for the safety of myself and my family, who were in the house during the incident.

“The armed individual pointing a pistol at me then forced me to hand over my phone,” she said.

Lee claimed her phone was handed to another officer, who forced her to unlock the phone and then deleted the video.

The MACC officers then supposedly confiscated their home’s CCTV decoder and left with Tei at 10.50am, only to return about 10 minutes later.

Azam’s denial

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki had denied that his officers had pointed a gun at the couple. Yesterday, the anti-graft agency confirmed that they had confiscated a mobile phone, an iPad and a digital video recorder.

On that note, the lawyers said the contents of the decoder are needed to establish whether MACC had acted lawfully when raiding Tei’s home.

“If MACC denies that no firearms were brandished at Tei and his wife, the CCTV footage would prove it instantly. The CCTV footage is the definitive truth.

“By taking the decoder, MACC has seized custody of the only evidence that could confirm what happened during the incident and prove their gross misconduct,” they added.

The lawyers also urged MACC to explain why the device was unlawfully removed from Tei’s premises.

“They should also explain the deletion of phone contents and identify the officers involved.”

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