PETALING JAYA: The family of the late Teoh Beng Hock have raised concerns over the latest police investigation into his death, questioning why key findings from the Court of Appeal’s 2014 ruling continue to be ignored.
While they welcomed the renewed probe by the police, they are disappointed that the case remains classified under Section 342 of the Penal Code for unlawful confinement instead of Section 302 for murder, as previously indicated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Teoh’s family expressed frustration that, despite repeated reopenings of the case, authorities have yet to take action against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers identified in the Court of Appeal’s ruling.
Instead, the focus remains on questioning Teoh’s family members and civil society representatives, including the chairman of the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement (TBH-ADA).
Teoh’s sister and family representative, Teoh Lee Lan, called the investigation direction troubling.
“The police concentrate on the victim’s family or civil society organisations rather than the MACC officers who detained and interrogated Beng Hock in the same building that night. Is this reasonable?” she said in a statement on Monday (Feb 24).
According to her, the family has put forward ten key questions they believe must be addressed in the investigation.
They also asked whether the suspected fourth interrogation session, which the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) believed took place after 3:30am on July 16, 2009, had been properly investigated and whether MACC officers Hishamuddin Hashim, Mohd Anuar Ismail and Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus have been questioned.
Another concern is forensic evidence showing that Teoh suffered pre-fall injuries, including a bruise on his neck indicating forceful trauma, possibly strangulation.
Despite this, she said there has been no indication that MACC officers present that night have been examined for their potential involvement in causing these injuries.
“The second DNA report also revealed an unknown male contributor’s DNA on Teoh’s waist belt.
“The family demands to know whether new DNA samples have been taken from all MACC officers present at Plaza Masalam on the night of his death for comparison,” she said.
The testimonies of Sivarasan Thangaveloo and Tan Boon Wah, who both reported similar mistreatment by MACC officers, should also be revisited, she added.
“Re-interviewing these witnesses could provide further evidence.
“The family also calls for scrutiny of MACC officer Anuar Ismail, who identified Teoh’s body from a distance but did not immediately report the discovery to the police.
“His actions and the delay in his cooperation with the investigation must be thoroughly examined.”
Additionally, the family raised questions about reports that news of Teoh’s death had already spread within the Klang MACC office by 7am on July 16, despite his body only being officially discovered at 1:30pm.
They urged authorities to investigate the role of Klang MACC officer Zulkefly Aziz and others who participated in the operation at Plaza Masalam that night.
Another issue is the deletion of call and SMS records by MACC officers after Teoh’s death.
The family asked whether the police had attempted to recover these deleted records and if the officers involved had been scrutinised.
They also pointed to inconsistencies in the MACC officers’ statements.
“Digital evidence destruction is another unresolved concern.
“The MACC officers’ computers, laptops and servers were not seized immediately after Teoh’s death and when examined, were found to have been wiped of work-related documents.”
The family questioned whether digital forensic experts had been engaged to attempt data recovery.
The final concern raised is the lack of independent expert involvement.
“The RCI previously rejected the Bar Council’s proposal to summon Australian forensic physicist Rodney Cross to examine Teoh’s fall trajectory.
“Last year, the family urged the Prime Minister to invite an international criminal investigation expert to assist in the new probe, but this request was ignored,” she added.
They questioned whether the police would consider bringing in independent forensic specialists to ensure a more thorough and impartial investigation.
“We explicitly reject the police’s summons for further statements.
“All necessary and unnecessary statements from the Teoh family have already been recorded.
“We urge the police to respect the law and court orders, immediately arrest the individuals specifically named by the Court of Appeal, and uphold the Constitution by treating all offenders equally,” said Lee Lan.
