PETALING JAYA: Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh has slammed Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for accusing the family of the late Teoh Beng Hock of wanting more compensation from the Government.
"Teoh's family is not seeking what they are not entitled to. They are seeking justice and it is the duty of the state to provide that justice properly and competently by investigating Teoh's death," said the lawyer.
In a statement issued on Thursday (June 27), Ramkarpal pointed out that the settlement of the civil suit by Teoh's family was made without prejudice to investigations over his death in 2009.
"It does not in any way indicate that Teoh's family accepts that there was no element of homicide in his death, or that the said criminal investigations have been satisfactory."
According it Ramkarpal, it is not unusual for civil suits to be settled amicably on a "without prejudice basis, which does not in any way compromise the criminal investigation".
On Wednesday (June 26), Muhyiddin said that all avenues in the probe into Teoh's death had been exhausted.
According it Ramkarpal, it is not unusual for civil suits to be settled amicably on a "without prejudice basis, which does not in any way compromise the criminal investigation".
On Wednesday (June 26), Muhyiddin said that all avenues in the probe into Teoh's death had been exhausted.
"When the family has received compensation and they continue to demand more, I would just leave the matter to the Attorney General," Muhyiddin said.
Ramkarpal said that Muhyiddin's remarks seemed to overlook the findings of the Court of Appeal, which suggested that there were elements of foul play and homicide in Teoh's death.
"The fact remains that no criminal charges have been initiated against those responsible for Teoh's death to date, which is quite separate from the civil proceedings that were initiated by his family.
"It is hoped that the criminal investigations are satisfactorily concluded as soon as possible in order to bring closure to this unfortunate saga," he added.
Teoh, 30, was found dead on July 16, 2009 on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, after giving a statement at the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office.
Teoh, who was an aide to Selangor exco member Ean Yong Hian Wah, had apparently fallen to his death after he was taken in for questioning over a corruption probe.
In 2005, the government and the MACC agreed to pay RM600,000 in damages to Teoh's family as settlement in a negligence suit.- Star
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