Group demands reason for reclassifying Beng Hock's death probe

A group seeking justice for Teoh Beng Hock today demanded an explanation from the attorney-general on the re-classification of the police investigation into Teoh's death in 2009.

Teoh Beng Hock Trust For Democracy chairperson Ng Geok Chee said they learnt that police have reopened their investigation in the political aide's death under Section 342 of the Penal Code for wrongful confinement.

This, Ng said in a statement, went against the judgment of the Court of Appeal in 2014, which ruled that one or more unknown persons caused the death of Teoh, including MACC officers.

"This is in stark contrast to the recommendations of the Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy and Malaysian Bar that those MACC officers involved should be prosecuted under the Section 304 for culpable homicide so that upon conviction, the perpetrators will serve a jail term of up to 30 years, and there is no limit on the fine.

"The appellate court judgment has clearly stated that the injury on Teoh's neck had existed prior to his fall, so it is an indisputable fact that Teoh was killed in the office of Selangor MACC.

"The police should investigate whether the MACC officers caused the death of Teoh, rather than avoid it and only investigate the procedural responsibility of the MACC officers," Ng said in the statement released to media this afternoon.

According to him, the group learned about the reclassification of the investigation after police summoned Beng Hock's sister, Lee Lan, last week to facilitate their investigation under Section 342.

The police wanted to record a statement from her. Her lawyer then called the police to check on this with them, but the police then said that there was no need to give a statement now.

Ng called on Attorney-General Tommy Thomas (photo, above) to clarify this matter and he also called on the Cabinet to explain whether the re-classification of the investigation received its permission.

"Attorney-General Tommy Thomas must clarify why he had completely ignored the core issue of political murder in directing the re-investigation and turned a blind eye to the violation of human rights caused by MACC."

In June last year, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that the Cabinet agreed to re-open investigations into the death of Beng Hock, who was a former political aide to DAP Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah.

Lim had said then that the government would consult with Thomas on the next course of action.

On July 16, 2009, Teoh was found dead after falling nine floors from MACC's former Selangor headquarters in Shah Alam, where he had been held overnight for questioning. - Mkini