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Why no MACC officers charged with Beng Hock's death, lawyer asks govt
Published: Jul 22, 2024 7:58 PM
An outspoken lawyer has urged the government to explain why no MACC officers were charged in court with causing Teoh Beng Hock’s 2009 death.
Charles Hector pointed out that the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) and the courts had already ruled that the political aide’s death was due to intense interrogation by the graft-buster.
The activist reminded the government there is a prevailing sentiment that MACC and other enforcement agency officers rarely or if at all ever get charged in court over deaths while under interrogation, in custody, or enforced disappearances.
Hector said this happened even after findings by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EIAC), RCI, or Coroner’s Court pointed out the involvement of these officers.
He questioned why nobody linked to the matter has been charged in court when it is a criminal offence.
He also urged the government to institute concrete legal reforms to deter the recurrence of events not just like Teoh’s case, but also others such as the 2014 death in police custody of 73-year-old Syed Mohd Azlan, and the 2016 enforced disappearance of activist Amri Che Mat.
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Lawyer Charles Hector
“The government must explain to the rakyat why these officers are not hauled to the criminal court.
“Even if the investigative agencies could not find enough evidence to prove in court against these officers, the government should still tell us that they could not obtain enough proof.
“Otherwise, these officers would continue to get away. Nothing has been done,” Hector told Malaysiakini this afternoon.
July 29 judicial review verdict
Teoh was found dead on July 16, 2009, on the fifth-floor service corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after being questioned overnight at the then-Selangor MACC headquarters on the 14th floor.
Teoh at the time was a political aide to Selangor executive councillor and DAP Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah.
In 2011, an RCI determined that Teoh was driven to commit suicide following MACC’s aggressive questioning.
In 2014, the Court of Appeal unanimously ruled his death was caused by the act of “person or persons unknown”, including the MACC officers who questioned him overnight before he was found dead.
“The government must explain to the rakyat why these officers are not hauled to the criminal court.
“Even if the investigative agencies could not find enough evidence to prove in court against these officers, the government should still tell us that they could not obtain enough proof.
“Otherwise, these officers would continue to get away. Nothing has been done,” Hector told Malaysiakini this afternoon.
July 29 judicial review verdict
Teoh was found dead on July 16, 2009, on the fifth-floor service corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after being questioned overnight at the then-Selangor MACC headquarters on the 14th floor.
Teoh at the time was a political aide to Selangor executive councillor and DAP Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah.
In 2011, an RCI determined that Teoh was driven to commit suicide following MACC’s aggressive questioning.
In 2014, the Court of Appeal unanimously ruled his death was caused by the act of “person or persons unknown”, including the MACC officers who questioned him overnight before he was found dead.
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Last week, in a written parliamentary reply to Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that the police’s investigation papers on the Teoh case have been passed to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court has set July 29 to decide on a judicial review by Teoh’s family to force the police to wrap up its long-standing investigation into the incident from 15 years ago.
Hector is one of the coordinators of the rights group Malaysians Against Death Penalty & Torture (Madpet).
Melayu budak kita mentality
ReplyDeleteThis is why hardly any top melayus go to prison