QUESTIONS were today raised in Parliament over the high-profile deaths of political aide Teoh Beng Hock and Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, with DAP’s Ramkarpal Singh asking who the former Barisan Nasional government was protecting.
Ramkarpal (PH-Bukit Gelugor), while debating the royal address, cited the authorities’ failure to act on the two cases as examples of corruption.
“The Court of Appeal ruled that one or more unknown persons, including MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) officers, had caused Teoh’s death,” Ramkarpal said, citing the September 2014 ruling.
“But the attorney-general at the time took no action. Do we want to believe that Teoh purposely fell off the (MACC) building? Surely there had been foul play.
“It is the same in the Altantuya case. In all criminal and murder cases, including those I have handled, the masterminds were charged even if they had no physical involvement. They were charged for having the intent.”
Why did the prosecution fail to do that in the Altantuya case, the lawyer asked.
The masterminds behind the deaths of Teoh in 2009 and Altantuya in 2006 were never brought to justice. Both cases have been reopened for investigation following the recent change of government.
Altantuya was said to be involved in a relationship with analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, who was formerly an adviser to former prime minister Najib Razak when he was defence minister.
Sirul Azhar Umar and another former policeman Azilah Hadri were found guilty of her murder and sentenced to death in 2015. Razak was charged with abetment in the murder but was freed without being told to enter defence.
In response to Ramkarpal, Ismail Mohamed Said (BN-Kuala Krau) cited Standing Order 35(6), which states that an MP shall not speak on any matter he has a direct personal pecuniary interest in without disclosing the extent of that interest
Ramkarpal, whose family law firm represents the families of Teoh and Altantuya, replied that his work on the two cases was pro bono.
“I am not interested in the money. I believe justice must prevail.”
Ramkarpal also spoke about corruption in law enforcement authorities, citing as an example former inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar’s connection with an underworld figure in Malacca last year.
He was referring to Ops Gopi, an anti-graft crackdown on vice and gambling centres in the state that began in May last year. Several police personnel were detained on suspicion of graft.
Khalid had admitted in June last year that he knew the man who allegedly collected bribes from illegal business operators for the police.
“There are many instances. Who in here has not heard about corruption in the police force?” Ramkarpal said.
The two-term MP also urged the government to set up independent bodies reporting to Parliament to keep law enforcement agencies in check and prevent misconduct and cover-ups such as in the cases of Teoh and Altantuya.
He cited as examples of such bodies the Independent Police Conduct Authority of New Zealand, and the Independent Police Complaints Commission in England and Wales.
– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com
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