The family of former political aide Teoh Beng Hock will not stop their fight for justice until those responsible for his death are punished.
Teoh Beng Hock
In a statement today, his family said the admission of negligence by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) and the government for Teoh’s death, is a great victory, but it is not the end of the road.
“It certainly does not signal the end of the road in our search for justice for Beng Hock. We have the judgment of the Court of Appeal and we will now focus on the police and demand that further investigations be conducted in the matter. We will not give up until those responsible for his death are charged and punished and justice is served for Teoh Beng Hock,” the statement read.
On Tuesday, the MACC and the government agreed to pay Teoh’s s family a total of RM600,000 in damages and RM60,000 as costs in a civil suit the family filed for negligence and assault.
Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, who is also Puchong MP, said the admission is a great victory and after six years of legal battles, they now have an acknowledgment by the MACC and the government that they are responsible for his death.
“We will continue to push the police for action in the matter. We have done all we possibly can in the matter legally. It is now for the police to do the needful and we will not stop pushing for justice for Teoh Beng Hock,” he said.
Teoh, who was political aide to Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on July 16, 2009 at the 5th floor corridor of the then-office of the Selangor MACC at Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam. He had been taken into the MACC office the day before for questioning in investigations of alleged irregularities into disbursement of Selangor government funds.
A Royal Commission of Inquiry was launched in 2011 after a coroner’s court returned with an open verdict in 2010. The RCI, led by Federal Court judge James Foong, found in July 2011 that Teoh had been driven to suicide by MACC officers who interrogated him relentlessly and harshly.
The RCI named four officers responsible, but to date, no disciplinary action has been taken against the four.
