MACC offers bouquet to Pornthip, seeks date with PI Bala
(Free Malaysia Today) – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is hopeful that Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand will attend and testify in the Teoh Beng Hock inquest on April 20.
The MACC said Pornthip’s testimony would help settle the matter quickly and ensure fairness to all, including Teoh’s family and the commission.
“Pornthip should not worry about her safety because the Malaysian government, including the Home Ministry and the police, have given their assurance to safeguard her throughout her presence at the inquest,” MACC said in a statement today.
On Sunday Pornthip, the director-general of the Bangkok-based Central institute of Forensic Science (CIFS), withdrew from the inquest, citing “political” pressure from the Malaysian government.
Pornthip, whose expert opinion was sought by the Selangor government, was expected to reveal the mysterious circumstances surrounding Teoh’s death last July 16.
Teoh, 30, was the political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah.
On July 15, he had been summoned to the MACC office on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam to be questioned over allegations of irregularities in the state funds. He was, however, found dead the following day on top of the fifth floor adjacent to the building.
Following an appeal by Teoh’s family, the court ordered a second autopsy. Pornthip was involved in the second autopsy.
In her earlier appearance at the inquest, Pornthip had said that Teoh’s death was “80 percent homicide”.
Malaysian pathologists, however, had insisted that Teoh could have plunged to his death or could have committed suicide.
On Sunday, Pornthip had said she was informed by the Thai Law Ministry that based on information received from Thailand’s Foreign Ministry, she would be barred from entering Malaysia.
Yesterday, Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein and Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan had reassured Pornthip of her safety while in Malaysia during the inquest.
