Cops say Teoh Beng
Hock’s family not
cooperating with probe
The police are probing Teoh Beng Hock’s 2009 death again following an order from the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
At a press conference today, Shuhaily said the police are in the final stages of reinvestigating Teoh’s death, with the investigation paper to be submitted to the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) soon.
However, Shuhaily said the police had been having a hard time reaching out to Teoh’s family members to assist in the probe.
“The family did not cooperate with us to help finalise the investigation papers,” he said in a Berita Harian report, adding that the DPP would be informed about the matter.
In July 2009, Teoh, who was then the political aide to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, hours after he had gone for questioning at the 14th floor of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s Selangor headquarters.
A coroner’s inquest in 2011 delivered an open verdict.
Teoh’s family subsequently filed an appeal against the findings, and three years later, the Court of Appeal set aside the open verdict and ruled the death was caused by multiple injuries as a result of unlawful acts by unknown persons.
Last November, the Kuala Lumpur High Court instructed the authorities to reopen and thoroughly reinvestigate all aspects of Teoh’s death.
Stating that the police had limited resources to probe the case as Teoh died 15 years ago, Shuhaily noted that there were several witnesses the police were unable to interview again.
He also stated that the use of 3D scanning technology to reconstruct the scene of the incident did not significantly aid the police in their investigation.
“The 3D scan could not provide a complete picture of what actually happened as witnesses could not be found and others were unwilling to come forward again, which limited the effectiveness of the 3D reconstruction,” he said.
However, he noted that there were still some findings that could contribute to the investigation. He revealed that the police had determined the angle of Teoh’s fall – which would be included in the investigation paper.
Earlier this year, the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement called on the police to accept a demand by Teoh’s family for an international criminal investigation expert to lead the new probe into his death.
The association’s chairman, Ng Yap Hwa, stressed that the police must conduct an independent and professional investigation and probe all possible angles.
He also said the police must investigate the five key MACC officers involved in the incident for murder and culpable homicide.
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