Councillor: MACC interrogation is ‘mental torture’
Written by Chua Sue-Ann, The Edge
Klang Municipal Councillor Tan Boon Wah today recounted his experience during a questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) a day earlier.
According to Tan, he was brought to MACC Selangor's headquarters for questioning on Wednesday at 9pm in relation to the purchase of flags for the Seri Kembangan constituency's Merdeka Day celebrations last year.
The anti-graft commission were probing allegations of misused funds by several Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Selangor assemblymen.
Tan said that while he was kept there overnight, his statement was only formally recorded at about 12pm, Thursday before being released at 1.35pm.
The investigating officer had alternated between courteous and aggressive tones during the questioning, Tan told reporters at a press conference here today.
"The way they questioned me, at first they were speaking in soft tones, asking me about my family and my wife, and suddenly they would ask about the receipt for the flags.
"From the way they questioned me, it was as if they were trying to force me to say there were no flags supplied," Tan said.
Describing the experience as "mental torture", Tan said he was placed in a bright room before being moved to a dark room prior to being questioning at 10pm.
He said he was made to stand at attention for over four hours during the questioning, and was shouted at if he flinched from position.
Tan also said he was interrogated by one MACC officer while other personnel apparently played ping-pong in an adjacent room and laughed at Tan's testimony.
According to Tan, the officer said, "Don't you love your wife? If you tell lies, it means you don't love your family," and later threatening to haul in his family.
Tan also claimed that the MACC officer had shouted at him, calling him "Cina bodoh (stupid Chinese)" and threatened to "hentam (beat)" him.
The local councillor said he had to return to the MACC next Monday (July 20) to produce the receipt for the flags amounting to RM2,400.
During questioning, Tan said he had repeatedly told the MACC officer that he needed more time to find the receipt.
When asked, Tan said he briefly saw the deceased, Teoh Beng Hock, at MACC office pantry at around dawn on Thursday.
According to Tan, Teoh was still wearing the same clothes and looked tired.
Tan said he had expressed his surprised to see Teoh "still there", to which Teoh merely replied "Mmm…"
Teoh, a political secretary to Selangor state executive council (exco) member Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead near the MACC Selangor headquarters at the Plaza Masalam building in Shah Alam at 1.30pm on Thursday.
Teoh, 30, had also been questioned at the anti-graft body's office overnight from Wednesday to Thursday.
The unexpected death has since sparked outcry from PR leaders who are demanding a full investigation into the incident.
Tan also said the MACC officer interrogating him had made him promise not to speak about his experience during questioning.
"But a life has been lost. I feel I must (speak about it)," Tan said.
