MACC denies allegations of torture

(Bernama) – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today refuted allegations that its officers resorted to torture tactics when conducting investigations.

The commission wanted the police to conduct an investigation into all reports claiming torture by MACC officers and take action against those who it claimed had made “false reports”.

It said in a statement that these people would have lodged the reports with the intention to tarnish the MACC’s image and undermine the investigation against them.

“It has become a trend lately for those arrested to lodge a police report stating that they have been tortured, coerced to give incorrect statements, threatened and so on after they had been released on bond by the MACC,” the statement said.

The statement also said that the MACC would not compromise in the matter of any of its officers acting beyond the law in conducting investigations.

Yesterday, five MACC officers, including Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus who was a witness at the inquest into the death of Teoh Beng Hock, lodged a report at the Shah Alam police headquarters denying allegations that MACC officers used force when questioning suspects.

Their action followed the testimony given at the inquest yesterday by a witness, T. Sivanesan, introduced by Gobind Singh Deo, counsel for Teoh’s family, that he was tortured by MACC officers during interrogation.