MACC investigator told not to lodge police report
(Malaysian Mirror) – An officer of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission was told by his boss that he need not make a police report about Teoh Beng Hock’s death at the time the body of the political aide was found.
MACC investigating officer Mohd Anuar Ismail was also told that the matter was not under the control of the commission’s Selangor office as Teoh had already been asked to go home.
Furthermore, Teoh’s body was not found at the MACC’s office.
Selangor MACC deputy director Hishamuddin Hashim said Mohd Anuar had received these instructions from him on July 16, the day the political aide was found dead.
‘Not caring about MACC’s reputation?’
Teoh, the political secretary to state executive councilor Ean Yong Hian Wah, had been summoned to the Selangor MACC office, located on the 14th floor of the Plaza Masalam building here, on July 15, to help in its investigations into alleged irregular disbursement of state funds.
His body was found on the fifth floor corridor of the same building the next day.
The inquest into his death is being held before coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas.
Replying to questions posed by counsel Gobind Singh Deo, who is holding a watching brief for Teoh’s family, Hishamuddin admitted he had not asked his officers to check the circumstances that may have led to Teoh’s death.
Gobind to Hishamuddin: “The MACC’s reputation is on the line and you didn’t care? Is that what you are saying?
“I put it to you that you didn’t want to know what had happened because it was the action of the MACC officers. You are responsible for Teoh Beng Hock’s death.”
Hishamuddin disagreed.
Permission to go home
Questioned further by the lawyer, Hishamiddin admitted he had not gone down to the scene where Teoh’s body was found on the day of the incident.
Gobind: Were you not interested in seeing the body?
Hishamuddin replied, “No”, adding that witnesses summoned for questioning were not allowed to leave whenever they wanted to even though they had come voluntarily.
However, he said, witnesses could ask the MACC officers’ permission to be allowed to go home in cases of emergency.
State MACC investigation unit head Hairul Ilham Hamzah told the inquest he and Mohd Anuar had gone around the office looking for Teoh on July 16 when they found he had not taken along his cellphone and bag.
Gobind: Did you try to contact him?SHAH ALAM – An officer of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission was told by his boss that he need not make a police report about Teoh Beng Hock’s death at the time the body of the political aide was found.
Hairul Ilham: No.
Gobind: Why not? It was strange that you couldn’t find him. Why didn’t you call?
Gobind also told Hairul Ilham that the MACC office had Teoh’s contact details.
“It didn’t occur to me to do so,” said Hairul Ilham, adding that he had “gone blank” when he heard that Teoh’s body had been found.
Gobind suggested that Hairul Ilham had not called because he (the witness) knew what had happened to Teoh.
Hairul Ilham disagreed.
Counsel Abdul Razak Musa, who is holding a watching brief for the MACC, tendered two of Teoh’s bank accounts as exhibits.
The inquest resumes on Friday.
