INDIFFERENT PAUL LOW: Up to AG, police to act on Beng Hock case

The Attorney-General’s Chambers and the police will take follow up action following the apex court's decision overturning the open verdict in the death of Teoh Beng Hock, says Minister of the Prime Minister Department Paul Low.

"We respect the court's decision, and the matter is now in the hands of the AG’s Chambers and police," Low  said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

“The case is now being evaluated by the two authorities,” he said.

The minister, who oversees integrity, good governance and human rights in the Najib Abdul Razak administration, said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission would cooperate with the relevant authorities.

"No, I don’t want to say," Low replied when asked if the government still insisted that MACC was cleared of Teoh's case following the Court of Appeal's decision.

The minister said MACC would issue respond to the court decision in a statement.

In its unanimous decision today, the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya overturned the coroner's open verdict following the inquest into the death of the DAP political aide.

The court ruled that, “The death of Teoh Beng Hock was caused by multiple injuries from a fall from the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam, which was the result of unlawful act or acts of persons unknown, inclusive of the MACC officers who were involved in the arrest and investigation of the deceased.”

The former political secretary fell to his death after being taken to the Selangor MACC headquarters to assist in the investigation of constituency development funds on July 16,2009.

The coroner’s court delivered an open verdict while the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) ruled that Teoh was forced to commit suicide.

As a result, the MACC officers involved in the investigation were cleared of criminal and disciplinary wrongdoing. -M'kini