Teoh inquest: Zai Jian, See You Again or Selamat Tinggal,Goodbye

Malaysia Chronicle

FINAL UPDATE The Teoh Beng Hock inquest has resumed, and the purported 'suicide note' found inside his sling bag has been translated with dispute now centered on whether the Mandarin word Zai Jian meant See You Again or 'Selamat Tinggat' which is the more final Goodbye.

The court interpreter was called to testify and grilled by Gobind Singh Deo, the lawyer for Beng Hock’s family, on why she had translated the most crucial portion of the note as Saya tak bolek bantu kamu. Minta maaf. Saya amat penat. Selamat tinggal or I can't help you. Forgive me. I'm very tired. Goodbye when Beng Hock had used the Mandarin word Zai Jian.

The interpreter's reply was that it was the meaning she obtained from Google Translate but she did not protest when Gobind submitted that the translation from two Chinese-English dictionaries showed See You Again.

Did not confirm if handwriting was Teoh's

Investigating Officer Ahmad Nazri, who discovered the note, also took the stand. Under cross-examination by Gobind, he admitted that he did not seek confirmation that the handwriting was Beng Hock's with his family, nor did his superiors ask him to get confirmation.

The 'suicide' note

He has been keeping Beng Hock's bag since it was discovered on a sofa in the MACC’s 14th floor office on July 16, 2009 in a locked cabinet in his own office. It is still unclear why he did not inform the Teoh family of the bag and its contents.

Gobind: "If it's important, isn't it crucial for us to get confirmation of the writing used for comparison?"
Nazri: "Yes"
Gobind: "You didn't get handwriting confirmation from Teoh's family?"
Nazri: "No"
Gobind: "Higher officers didn't instruct you to confirm handwriting?"
Nazri: "No"

Ahmad earlier told the court he did not realize the ‘significance’ of the note until he was told by a psychiatrist in Hospital Permai that suicide victims often left a note. He then recorded the items on Oct 7, 2009 and sent them to the Chemistry Department for examination.

He also said that MACC officer Zurinawati Zulkifli had informed him of Beng Hock's sling bag left behind in their office, but she refused to sign a handover form. Her reason was because she was not assigned to the case. Ahmad Nazri also testified that Zurinawati had told him that the MACC investigating officer in charge of Beng Hock's interrogation, Mohd Anuar Ismail, had earlier on taken the bag into his office.

The MACC or Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission claims it was suicide but his family and his employers - the Selangor state government - are adamant there was foul play involved. Teoh had gone to the MACC to be interviewed as a witness in connection with a graft probe and was in good spirits as he was due to register his marriage on July 16. He and fiancee were expecting their first child, who has since been born.

Beng Hock's bag

Ahmad Nazri had begun by telling Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas that he was first informed that Teoh's body was found on the 5th floor service corridor of the MACC headquarters in Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam at 2.15pm on July 16, 2009.

Teoh is believed to have fallen from the MACC's 14th floor office after overnight interrogation that began on July 15..

Ahmad said he reached the building at 2.45pm. He testified that he found that the window on Level 14 was open about 15cm wide. The handle was missing and is believed to have been broken off. Teoh's body was directly under that window. The forensics team arrived at 4pm.

At about 5pm, Zurinawati told him about Teoh's sling bag. In it was Teoh's wallet with his Mykad, cash and bank cards. Also found were a VCD, mineral water, computer accessories, note books and some pieces of paper.

“That’s all I listed in the wallet. There were actually more items that I didn’t list because they were not valuable items,” Ahmad Nazri told the court.

Dr Pornthip

Popular Dr Pornthip - voted Thailand's most trusted person

Four government pathologists have concluded that Teoh died due to injuries from his fall. Dr Paul Vanezis, hired by the MACC, also said Teoh died from fall injuries but stopped short of saying whether it was suicide or homicide.

After a second post-mortem, Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, who was hired by the Selangor government to look into the forensics, has reiterated her preliminary view that Teoh did not commit suicide. She believes it was homicide.

In court today are Abdul Razak Musa, the DPP heading the MACC prosecution unit. Abdul Razak became notorious for his brutal cross-examination of Dr Pornthip last month. He was lambasted for his unprofessional conduct and ridiculed for his line of questioning. The video tape of his session with the Dr Pornthip has become a huge hit on the Internet.

Gobind is representing Teoh's family, while Malik Imtiaz Sarwar is acting for the Selangor government.