Beng Hock's death - MP cries foul over officer's second promotion

DAP lawmaker Teo Nie Ching has slammed the MACC for again promoting one of its officers implicated in the death of former political aide Teoh Beng Hock.

It was announced yesterday that Hishamuddin Hashim had been promoted to director of MACC Intelligence Division. He was formerly Sabah MACC director.

Teo said the Court of Appeal had ruled in September 2014 that Teoh's death was accelerated by an unlawful act or acts of persons unknown, including MACC officers who were involved in the investigations of the deceased.

However, she said that until today no one from MACC has been held responsible for Teoh's death.

"The decision made by the Court of Appeal has become a paper judgment and did not bring about any change.

"If I were the judge, I will surely feel very helpless because the court's ruling fell on deaf ears," Teo said yesterday.

This is the second promotion for Hishamuddin as he has been promoted to Negeri Sembilan MACC director after Teoh's death and before taking up his Sabah appointment.

Teoh was found dead in July 2009 after falling nine floors from the 14th floor of the Selangor MACC headquarters where he had been held overnight for interrogation.

Hishamuddin was then Selangor MACC deputy director. He, along with two other MACC personnel, was fingered by a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into Teoh's death.

The RCI had deduced that the trio's tactics had driven Teoh to commit suicide and described Hishamuddin as an 'arrogant leader'.

Following this, the MACC suspended the three officers pending investigations. Eventually, investigators cleared Hishamuddin and the two others.

'Angry, powerless'

In September 2014, the Court of Appellate overturned the coroner's open verdict and ruled that Teoh's death was caused by multiple injuries from a fall from the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam.

His death was a result of/or was accelerated by an unlawful act or acts of persons unknown, inclusive of the MACC officers who were involved in the arrest and investigations of the deceased, said the judges.

Teo urged MACC to review its internal investigations of the three officers.

"Hishamuddin was then leading the investigative team in the case of the Selangor state funds and that is why he has to be responsible for Teoh's death.

"I feel angry and powerless on his second promotion," said Teo.

Teo said she and Teoh's family will not give up on pressuring MACC and the related agencies until those responsible for Teoh's death are punished and justice is served.

"MACC has done great on the RM2.6 billion case but they owe justice to Beng Hock," she said. -Mkini