PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has agreed to reopen the probe into Teoh Beng Hock’s death, which has garnered nationwide intrigue over the past 15 years.
The Prime Minister said investigations would be carried out independently.
“I have stated the government’s stance that we agreed for the police to reopen investigation papers into Beng Hock’s death. I guarantee that investigations will be carried out transparently and fairly without any external interference, especially after taking into account the views of the Appeals Court regarding the case on Sept 5, 2014,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
In July 2011, a Royal Commission of Inquiry found that Beng Hock’s death was due to suicide.
However, in September 2014, the Court of Appeal ruled that his death was caused by multiple injuries from a fall from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office, which was accelerated by “an unlawful act or acts of person or persons unknown”, including MACC officers who were involved in the case.
Anwar also said he met with Beng Hock’s father Teoh Leong Hwee, mother Teng Shuw Hoi, sister Lee Lan and son Er Jia at Perdana Putra here yesterday.
“I listened to their concerns and requests. I have followed this case closely and understand the sadness and suffering that the family has gone through in seeking justice for Beng Hock,” said Anwar.
The Prime Minister had earlier met with Beng Hock’s family, their lawyer Ramkarpal Singh and Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo at 3pm.
Ramkarpal, who spoke to reporters after the meeting, said Anwar would raise the matter to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
“Any follow-ups will be relayed to Beng Hock’s family through me as their family lawyer,” said Ramkarpal.
Meanwhile, Lee Lan said she conveyed her frustrations to the Prime Minister regarding delays over investigations into the case.
Journey towards justice: Anwar shaking hands with Teoh’s father at his office in Putrajaya. — Photo courtesy of the Prime Minister’s official Facebook page
“The Prime Minister said the police would investigate the matter independently and professionally,” she said, thanking Anwar for meeting her and the family.
“Datuk Seri (Anwar) assured us that he is very concerned about this case. He said it’s not a small case; it is a case involving human lives. He cares about this case and will do his best to get it investigated.”
Lee Lan also recalled that in 2009, Anwar was present at Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam, during a gathering to demand justice for Beng Hock.
“The Prime Minister said he still remembers it and he even came to Beng Hock’s funeral,” she added.
Lee Lan said she had proposed that the government include international experts to assist in police investigations.
“The Prime Minister said it was up to the police to decide whether or not to do so,” she added.
On July 16, 2009, Beng Hock was detained overnight for questioning at the 14th floor of the MACC office in Shah Alam and was later found dead on the fifth floor of the building.
In May 2015, the government agreed to pay Beng Hock’s family RM600,000 as settlement for a civil suit initiated in 2012 for negligence resulting in Beng Hock’s death.
In January 2022, Beng Hock’s parents filed for a judicial review to compel the police to complete investigations into his death.
Last month, the High Court set Oct 29 to deliver its ruling on a judicial review brought by Beng Hock’s family against the police.
