By Teresa Kok, Seputeh MP

On Friday September 5, the Court of Appeal set aside the coroner’s open verdict in the inquest of Teoh Beng Hock. The panel of judges unanimously held that Teoh’s death was caused by multiple injuries from a fall from the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam as a result of, or which was accelerated by an unlawful act or acts of persons unknown, inclusive of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers who were involved in his arrest and investigation.

With the landmark judgement, I wish to remind the Prime Minister of his 2009 promise to Teoh Beng Hock’s family when he met them on July 28, 2009 at his office . He had told them that he would leave no stone unturned to find out the causes and circumstances of Teoh’s death.

However, for the past five years, what the government had brought to the family was disappointment, pain and tears as they were not given the truth they had been seeking.

Najib had also disappointed the Teoh family after the James Foong’s Royal Commission of Inquiry‘s findings were published in 2011 as no MACC officer named in the report was charged in court.

Although the RCI’s verdict was that Teoh was driven to suicide, the officers named could and should have been prosecuted.

Now with Friday’s Court of Appeal’s judgment, Najib must fulfil his 2009 promise and ensure that truth will prevail and justice will be served.

The judgment on September 5 is consistent with the public belief that there was no reason for Teoh , who was called in as a witness to assist in MACC investigations and who was about to get married, to commit suicide.

As hoped for by the Teoh family, Friday’s judgment must be a new beginning where the total truth of Teoh’s death can prevail and justice will be served.