The ‘arrogant leader’ in Teoh’s interrogation

Friday, July 22 @ 08:18:07 CDT

RCI REPORT Contrary to his testimony, Hishamuddin Hashim was found to have been in full control and actively involved in the entire operation.

Although the then Selangor MACC deputy director Hishamuddin Hashim had disclaimed active involvement in the graft busting operation which led to the death of Teoh Beng Hock, the royal commission of inquiry (RCI), however, found that he had played an instrumental role in the tragedy.

According to the report, contrary to his testimony, Hishamuddin (above) was found to have been in full control and actively involved in the entire operation from the very start.

The commission discovered that during the period of the operation, the officers involved would keep him updated twice in a day when he would give them specific directions.

“Even when the officers were on the ground, they would call him on their mobile phones for directions should they encounter any problem in the operation, or he would call them to give directions,” the report said.

“He not only was involved but he also unleashed his officers to do his bidding in order to get results within that night (of July 15) and morning (of July 16) come hell or high water.

“He was clearly accountable for what transpired at the Selangor MACC during the period in question, and the submission of counsel for the MACC falls flat in the face of these facts,” read the RCI report.

It pointed out that Teoh was driven to commit suicide by the “aggressive, relentless, oppressive and unscrupulous interrogations” by MACC officers acting on Hishamuddin’s orders.

The commission named Hishamuddin, together with two of his officers – Mohd Anuar Ismail and Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus, as the trio who questioned Teoh in the postulated fourth interrogation that was described as the “final straw that broke the camel’s back”.

Deadly obsession with achieving aim

Therefore, the RCI report stressed that although there was no direct evidence to prove that Hishamuddin had a hand in the death of Teoh, he should be held responsible for the actions taken by him and his officers, which propelled Teoh to take his own life.

NONEThe senior officer, who has been with the MACC for 21 years, was described by the report as an “arrogant leader who would have no qualms in lying as long as his ends were achieved, regardless of the means employed”.

“We found him to be arrogant, given to falsehoods, untruthful and uncompromising in his stand.”

However, he had been promoted after the incident and currently holds the senior position as Negeri Sembilan MACC director.

The commission said Hishamuddin had launched a full-scale operation, mobilising the whole Selangor MACC while seeking manpower support from other MACC offices on the mere belief in the informant and without supporting facts.

“…Hishamuddin should have exercised every caution as the complaint was serious in nature and involved the state government of Selangor…,” read the report.

The commission said Hishamuddin was simply too stubborn to retreat from his mistake in mounting such a massive operation against Selangor elected representatives, particularly when it had received wide and extensive press coverage.

Disappointed at the negative result obtained from witnesses, the commission believed that Hishamuddin must have resorted to a personal and more aggressive interrogation of Teoh since the latter held the vital link between Ean Yong and the suppliers or contractors.

“And if anything were to be made to ‘stick’ on Ean Yong, it would have to be through Teoh,” the report added.

‘Iron grip a major hindrance’

Hishamudin’s tight grip on his officers also hindered the RCI from unearthing the truth from other MACC officers.

“Hishamuddin was described by MACC officer Azian as a workaholic. As a boss, he also instilled fear in his officers. Opportunities for promotion rested mainly in his hands.

“The whole range of interview-interrogation techniques would have been employed by his officers and himself to satisfy his desire to obtain results in the shortest possible time.

“Thus, it was not at all surprising that most of his officers, save two strong souls (Azeen and Azian) who pointed out the truth, had the inevitable habit of lying,” read the RCI report.

teoh beng hock rci witness 57 270411 azeen hafees jamaluddinAzeen Hafees Jamaluddin (left) and Azian Umar were the two MACC officers who exposed Hishamuddin’s falsehoods during the inquiry.

They revealed that Hishamuddin had called all the Selangor MACC officers involved in the case for a meeting on July 16 evening, to exclude himself from the responsibility and shift it all to Anuar.

The commission noted that Hishammudin appeared to have absolute authority to probe anyone whom he suspected to be involved in any corrupt practice in the state without even informing or obtaining the consent of his superiors at the Putrajaya headquarters of the MACC headquarters.

But the commission was later told by the current MACC deputy chief commissioner that this shortcoming had been rectified and that certain cases in any state now require approval and consent from HQ before investigations can commence.

The report also touched on the anonymous letter dated Aug 5, 2009 purportedly written by MACC officers which alleged the corrupt practices, misconduct and abuse of power committed by Hishamuddin in connection with the cases involving Teoh and former Selangor menteri besar Mohamad Khir Toyo.

It pointed out that although the letter had received the attention of the then-MACC chief commissioner, the anti-graft body did not carry out a formal investigation on the matter, given that the anti-graft body has very wide powers to set its investigative machinery in motion.

“According to section 29 of the MACC Act, a report may be made orally or in writing, and in the present matter before this RCI, the information that set the investigation machinery of the MACC in motion had purportedly been conveyed to Hishamuddin merely over the telephone,” the report added.

RCI: MACC officers LIED to cover-up the nefarious activities – TEOH WAS NEVER RELEASED FROM CUSTODY

Can Malaysians trust and cooperate with officers from a department responsible to uphold principles of morality and integrity when they keep on lying to the public?

Hishamuddin Hashim

(look at this MM report dated Oct 15, 2009)

MACC not responsible for Teoh’s death, say witness

Submitted by ayu on Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Bernama

Thursday, October 15th, 2009 12:59:00

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) deputy director for Selangor today told the inquest into the death of Teoh Beng Hock that the commission was not responsible for the political aide’s death because the deceased was no longer under its responsibility when he died.

Hishamuddin Hashim in his testimony, said Teoh had been allowed to go home after giving a statement at the Selangor MACC’s office on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam here, before he was found dead on the fifth floor of the same building on July 16.

Negeri Sembilan MACC Director (current) Hishamuddin Hashim Lied in Court

But the RCI concluded that Teoh was never released and was still detained by Selangor MACC as other witnesses were also not allowed to go home and “his attendence was practically effected by force although claimed otherwise and therefore the panel cannot percieve Teoh would have wanted to stay a minute longer if he was free”.

( Meaning that Teoh was still in the custody of MACC when he died. Hence MACC MUST take FULL RESPONSIBILITY for his death. )

Blue wall of silence

The RCI stated that the conferment of extensive powers on MACC without checks and balances would inevitably result in those powers being abused, and such abuse becomes difficult to prove as the only witnesses would be those officers whose conduct was being probed.

The RCI had earlier found that anti-graft officers in Selangor viewed witnesses and suspects as “the enemy” and were brutal in their interview techniques,

“The investigation into this will bring in its wake the inherent and harsh realities of meeting ‘a blue wall of silence’ based on brotherhood ties among those officers. The characteristics of this ‘blue wall of silence’ came amply into play in the present case as evidenced by untruths spouted by MACC officers to cover-up the nefarious activities that took place on July 15 and 16.

(Isn’t lying in court /RCIs an act of Pejury i.e. The deliberate, willful giving of false, misleading, or incomplete testimony under oath.)

“This clinging to brotherhood ties by those officers has resulted in our facing extreme difficulties in gathering evidence to arrive at the truth.”

It noted that the Selangor MACC’s operation to obtain evidence to support its corruption case had led to the death of, whom it described in the report as “a young man in the prime of life who had everything to look forward to’ and whose family had been “robbed” of a son, brother, husband and father.

FORCED SUICIDE IS HOMICIDE AND ACTION MUST BE TAKEN AGAINST TBH’S MURDERERS. JUSTICE MUST BE DONE!!

RCI: ‘Arrogant Leader’ should be held responsible for the actions taken by him

Hishamuddin Hashim, was found to to be arrogant, given to falsehoods, untruthful and uncompromising in his stand,” RCI said, noting that Hishammuddin had persistently lied being part of the operation.

HH launched a full-scale operation involving a large number of witnesses and mobilised the whole Selangor MACC and sought manpower support from other MACC officers as well based only on mere belief. Who gave the instruction to HH to conduct such massive exercise. It is obvious that there was political motive to take over the Selangor government.

An anonymous letter, purportedly from all MACC officers in the country, accused Hishammuddin of misconduct and power abuses which involved former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo. These accusations were NEVER investigated.

TEOH BENG HOCK WAS NOT EVEN A SUSPECT BUT MERELY A WITNESS!

Teoh Beng Hock died based on a blatant lie . Shockingly , HH has now been promoted to head Negeri Sembilan MACC.

RCI: Senior graftbuster launched Selangor investigation on ‘mere belief’
By Debra Chong
July 21, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — A senior Selangor anti-graft officer launched a full-scale fund abuse investigation solely on an informant’s “mere belief” and without supporting facts, the royal panel reviewing the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) procedures said.
In its report released today, the Foong Commission found Hishammuddin Hashim (HH) “passionately involved” in the graft operation against a Selangor DAP lawmaker, leading to the death of his political aide Teoh Beng Hock.

“There was no direct evidence to prove that HH had a hand in the death of TBH. But as the senior most officer involved in the operation… he should be held responsible for the actions taken by him and his officers which propelled TBH to commit suicide,” the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) said.

“We found him to be arrogant, given to falsehoods, untruthful and uncompromising in his stand,” it said, noting that Hishammuddin had persistently denied being part of the operation.

The panel said they only learnt the truth when two of Hishammuddin’s men testified the former Selangor MACC deputy director was the one who issued all instructions and even directed the officers on who and how to interview witnesses.

Hishammuddin is now the Negri Sembilan MACC director, the panel noted.

“From the start we observed that he was fully convinced of the truth of the information he had received. However, he was fully aware of the fact that information was grounded on the belief of the informant that Selangor state assemblymen were receiving monies from the allocation without the programmes being held or the projects being carried out,” it said.

It noted that Hishammuddin who had 19 years experience then “should have exercised every caution as the complaint was serious in nature and involved the State government of Selangor”.

The RCI added that instead of carrying out basic groundwork to confirm the truth of his informant’s claims, “he launched a full-scale operation involving a large number of witnesses and mobilised the whole Selangor MACC and sought manpower support from other MACC officers as well for this purpose”.

The panel said Hishammuddin could have checked by interviewing independent persons who had previously attended the events, or visited the project sites, or even call up the land or district offices to know if the budgeted programmes had been held.

The RCI also noted an anonymous letter, purportedly from all MACC officers in the country, addressed to its chief, which accused Hishammuddin of misconduct and power abuses in connection with Teoh’s case  and former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.

The letter was submitted as evidence although there was no proof to suggest a formal investigation was ever carried out.

The RCI noted that Hishammuddin had been described by his fellow officers as a “workaholic” and an ambitious person who put fear in his colleagues.

“Thus, it was not at all surprising that most of his officers… had the inevitable habit of lying,” it said.

The RCI recommended that the MACC Act passed two years ago be amended to prevent further abuses and misinterpretation of the law and to afford protection to witnesses and suspects against human-rights abuses as well as to take a more balance approach in the fight against corruption.

Teoh’s sister: My brother was murdered

Tarani Palani | July 21, 2011

Teoh Beng Hock’s family rejects the RCI findings that he committed suicide and will consider a judicial review.

KUALA LUMPUR: The family of Teoh Beng Hock said today that they rejected the findings of the Royal Commission Inquiry (RCI) that Teoh had committed suicide due to aggressive interrogation techniques by three Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers.

Teoh’s sister Teoh Lee Lan told reporters that the family cannot accept the report’s conclusion that her brother had been driven to suicide, saying that her brother was not a weak individual.

“We cannot accept the (RCI’s) conclusion… that he was driven to suicide. That is not an answer to us,” she said .

The clearly distraught and angry Lee Lan said that RCI report still failed to provide answers. Although it had pointed to bad interrogation techniques, it fell short of stating that Teoh was murdered.

“(The report) showed that he was badly tortured. But did they prove that Beng Hock was murdered? These RCI finding shows how bad MACC procedure is. (But) it did not tell us what really happened to Beng Hock,”she said.

“It is not an answer for us. We will continue to fight for justice.”

Lee Lan, who was reduced to tears during the press conference, said that her brother was not weak.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s department Nazri Abdul Aziz said earlier that the RCI conclusion was also supported by forensic psychiatrist Dr Paul Mullen, who was engaged by the Bar Council.

Mullen had said that Teoh’s risk of committing suicide soared drastically due to the long hours of aggressive interrogation.

Lee Lan also said that the MACC had killed her sibling, quoting many eye-witnesses who have recounted their experiences during RCI proceedings.

“They killed him. This fact we know,” she said adamantly.

Lee Lan also slammed the government saying: “The RCI report merely tell us that the government doesn’t want to bear the responsibility. They used some improper manner, but nobody tells who should bear the responsibility.”

“We will not compromise, we will go nationwide and tell all that you are an irresponsible government.”

‘Time needed to study report’

Meanwhile, family lawyer, Karpal Singh, said that more time was need in order to study the report carefully before deciding on the next course of action.

He added that they will most likely decide on the matter next week.

Asked if any legal criminal charges can be taken against the three MACC interrogators, Karpal said that the focus should instead be on the RCI conclusion that Teoh had committed suicide.

“We have to look at the larger picture (the matter) of suicide. The finding (that was) suicide, that is what we are concerned about,” Karpal said, agreeing with the family’s sentiment that they did not accept the verdict of suicide.

Karpal also said that the family would definitely consider a judicial review as suggested by Nazri.

“The RCI, although it is a royal inquiry, it is still an inferior tribunal. In law, its findings are still reviewable by the High Court,” he added.

Elaborating further on the matter of criminal prosecution of the MACC officers, another lawyer for the family, Gobind Singh, said that legal action against officers alleged to have abetted Teoh’s suicide was not a common occurrence and needs time to be studied.

“It is not something that commonly happens. I can tell you in India there is a law that prosecutes in-laws who drive women to suicide,” he said, adding that Malaysia did not have such law.

The RCI, which was headed by Federal Court Judge James Foong, had reached its conclusion unanimously.

Its proceedings, which began in February this year, ended after five months which saw the five-men commission taking testimonies from some 70 witnesses, including MACC and police officers and other forensic experts.

The 124-page report was then was submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin on June 22. A copy was also given to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

Teoh Beng Hock’s wife: It’s a slap in the face

Soh Cher Wei compares the findings of the commissioners a ‘slap’ that has woken her from slumber. The wife of Teoh Beng Hock has described the months of anticipation waiting for the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into her husband’s death as a “dream” that had just ended. “Thanking” the RCI for allowing her at least to have false hopes that justice would be done over her husband’s death, Soh Cher Wei (left) compared the findings of the commissioners a “slap” that had woken her from slumber. “Thanks to the RCI for letting me dream for a few months. Now that I’ve been slapped (awake), it’s time to rise,” she said in a mobile text message to the press. Meanwhile, in Alor Gajah, Teoh’s mother does not acept the RCI’s finding that her son committed suicide. Teng Shuw Hoi, 58, said she does not believe her son committed suicide because he was a good person. “I am a mother, I cannot accept that my son committed suicide,” she told Bernama when met at her home today. Teng did not wish to comment further and said the family’s lawyer would be making a statement on the matter. She said she and her husband Teoh Leong Hwee and the other members of her family would be going to Kuala Lumpur later today to meet their lawyers. Sombre mood at family’s press conference Later in the evening, a sombre mood hung over Teoh’s family’s press conference, as the RCI report had dashed their hopes of proving Beng Hock was murdered. “We cannot accept this decision. Beng Hock driven to suicide, is not an answer for us,” slammed Teoh’s sister Lee Lan, unable to hold back her tears. “The whole country knows that Beng Hock wouldn’t commit suicide, but the government refused to bear the responsibility.” Silently weeping by Lee Lan’s (right) side was her mother Teng and father Leong Hwee, who all vouched that their youngest son was “not weak” as stated in the findings of the RCI. “They (RCI) proved that Beng Hock was treated badly and tortured. But they did not show that Beng Hock was murdered,” said Lee Lan, insisting that her brother was killed. “The RCI report merely tells us that the government doesn’t want to bear the responsibility. “What really happened to Beng Hock? They said they searched through all the evidence but did they really perform their job. This is not an answer,” she said. The family’s lawyer, Karpal Singh said that they are in the process of studying and dissecting the report before pursuing the matter further. “This is unacceptable, they (the family) wants justice done not the ruling of suicide,” said Karpal, adding that the family is not ruling out a judicial review of the findings. He added that they do not regret pulling out from RCI proceedings in the beginning. Beng Hock’s family had applied to have the RCI proceeding postponed until the revision of the inquest’s open verdict was decided upon. However, this was denied. The revision pending in the Shah Alam High Court is expected to heard on Aug 18 and 19. Karpal, however, added that the RCI is an “inferior tribunal” and its findings are reviewable by the high court. Quizzed on whether there are legal avenues to prosecute the three Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers found guilty of driving Beng Hock to suicide during the overnight questioning on July 16, 2009, he said: “There cannot be an abetment to suicide. Most probably disciplinary action will be taken against them.” Lawyer Gobind Singh also agreed but added that they have yet to thoroughly study the report to make a conclusive statement. Legal recourse to punish the three MACC officers for driving Beng Hock to suicide is “not something common”, he said. “It is not something that commonly happens. I can tell you in India there is a law that allows for the prosecution of family (in-laws) who drive women to suicide,” he said, adding that Malaysia did not have such law. Ex-boss: MACC caused Beng Hock’s death Teoh’s former boss, Selangor exco member Ean Yong Hean Wah, said in a statement that he still does not believe that Beng Hock committed suicide. However, he said the RCI report at least proved that the investigate officer of MACC had abused their power. It is true that they had applied tough measures on Teoh and they also used improper procedures in interrogating Beng Hock. Ean Yong (right) claimed that due to this abuse of power, tough measures and improper interrogation procedure, the MACC had caused the death of Beng Hock. “The RCI’s investigation process seems to be reasonable, which also exposed lots of MACC’s scandals. But the investigation report was out of expectations and seems unreasonable. “I believe that all Malaysians will have their own measurement in themselves, and the truth of the incident will never able to be covered up,” he added. “In fact, the investigation results of MACC shown that neither me nor Beng Hock was involved in any abused of power or receive any bribe. This also proved that the action of MACC was to act against Pakatan’s assemblypersons in Selangor and has an ulterior political motive behind it along with PM Najib Abdul Razak’s conspiracy on getting back Selangor political power ‘at all costs’,” Ean Yong said. He vowed to continue to try to find out the truth about Beng Hock’s death, until the real murderer has been charged, and justice is done. TI-M: Public has to trust findings In another development, Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) president Paul Low told Bernama that the public has to trust the findings of the RCI. “We have to trust the findings of the RCI because it is properly constituted with people of integrity,” he told reporters in Putrajaya today. However, Low (right) said the way of interrogation by the MACC needed to be revamped. “This is to make sure it is done in a professional and proper manner,” he said. “If they violate the SOPs (standard operating procedures), then under the disciplinary procedures of the MACC, they have to take the proper action,” he said, referring to the MACC officers who interrogated Teoh. Additional reporting by Nigel Aw.

RCI names MACC men as ‘abuser’, ‘bully’ and ‘the arrogant leader’

“HH the arrogant leader who would have no qualms about lying as long as his ends were achieved, regardless of the means employed,” the report said.

 

By Debra Chong

July 21, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — A royal commission said Teoh Beng Hock was broken by three senior graft investigators it referred to as “Arman the bully, Ashraf the abuser and HH the arrogant leader.”

It also concluded that most MACC officers in its Selangor office were prone to lying.

The trio are the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) then deputy director for Selangor Hishammuddin Hashim, officers Arman Alies and Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus, who were among a number of investigators named in the commission’s report as having broken Teoh Beng Hock during a four-stage interrogation session that started from July 15, 2009 to the next day.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Teoh’s death said that “Arman the bully” would “manipulate his witness to obtain evidence.”

“Ashraf the abuser.” it said, was described as Machiavellian in his method to secure evidence.

But what was most damning in the report’s assessment of MACC methods was their description of Hishammuddin.

“HH the arrogant leader who would have no qualms about lying as long as his ends were achieved, regardless of the means employed,” the report said.

As a boss, Hishammuddin was also said to instill fear among his officers.

Under Hishammuddin, most officers also had the inevitable habit of lying, the report concluded.

Three psychological experts also said that Teoh’s mental state had shifted immediately when he was taken in for questioning by on July 15, 2009  “from the low-risk group to the high-risk group for suicide”.

Below are the panel’s other remarks:

•    “TBH appeared to have been propelled into a fear-inducing situation as shown by the pattern of calls that he made when the MACC officers were conducting their investigations into the office. He needed reassurance form his colleagues… he was pacified when given the chance by Anuar to discuss his concerns privately for a few minutes with both YB and Manoharan in the SUK building before he was taken away to the Selangor office but when not allowed to see them after that he was cut off from outside world

•    “Taking away his mobilephone would have meant robbing him of his means to reality and sanity. And the MACC officers did just that. Thus for the first time in his life, TBH found himself totally and completely isolated from the outside world and thrust into desolation… This was a gross violation of TBH’s personal right, whch would have compounded his anxiety and worry

•    “Arman and Ashraf behaved like inquisitors in an inquisition at the second stage of the interrogation. They instilled doubts and fears into TBH as regards the Treasury directives… TBH had to face MACC interrogation heavyweights like Arman the bully [who would manipulate his witness to obtain evidence], Ashraf the abuser [who was Machiavellian in his method to secure evidence] and HH the arrogant leader [who would have no qualms in lying as long as the ends were achieved, regardless of the means employed].

•    The RCI noted that HH had been described by his fellow officers as a “workaholic” and an ambitious person who put fear in his colleagues, “Thus, it was not at all surprising that most of his officers… had the inevitable habit of lying.

•    “By the time the fourth or final stage of the interrogation was over, TBH would have been almost a mental and physical wreck.”

As expected, RCI cops out: Beng Hock committed suicide

Written by  Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

UPDATE 3 As expected, the Royal Commission of Inquiry, in an unanimous decision, found that Teoh Beng Hock had been driven to commit suicide by “aggressive, relentless, oppressive and unscrupulous” interrogation by three MACC officers.

But tough-sounding the RCI’s words may be, it was a cop out on justice due to the 30-year-old Selangor political officer. This way, the RCI hopes to satisfy his family without having to bring to book the MACC officers involved.

“He was felt pressured and stressed as a result of continuous interrogation techniques,” Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz told reporters on Monday.

Nazri also assured that “appropriate action will be taken against those officers involved” for going against MACC procedure based on the rules and laws already in place at that time. But this is obviously lets them off the hook for murder, which Teoh’s family wants them to be prosecuted for.

The three officers named were Selangor MACC Deputy Director Hishamuddin Hashim, and his officers Mohamad Anuar Ismail and Ashraf Mohd Yunus.

Forced suicide and hogwash

Pakatan Rakyat leaders lambasted the decision, warning that the Chinese community would not take kindly to it They also accused Prime Ministe Najib Razak of trying to shield his party members, some of whom have been accused of triggering the chain of events that led to Beng Hock’s death.

“It sounds like whitewash that has been turned to hogwash. No man about to get married the next day and looking forward to his first child would ever, ever consider suicide. And that is the simple truth to it all,” PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.

As DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang also pointed out, “forced suicide” is homicide.

“You cannot have a situation it’s not homicide but (rather) forced to commit suicide,” Malaysian Insider quoted him as saying.

Other pundits believe that knowing that the BN had already lost the Chinese vote “for good”, Najib did not push for the full extent of justice to be given to Beng Hocks.

However, there were those who said that in any case, Najib would still have put his political self-preservation above all other considerations.

A homicide decision might trigger the MACC officers to spill their guts out and reveal much more than the UMNO warlords – known for their corrupt ways – could stomach.

Regaining S’gor and what if the MACC spilt the beans back on UMNO

As Beng Hock’s widow Soh Cher Wei had once described, he was a mere “pawn” in a power game. Teoh’s death occured in July 2009, soon after Najib used the Perak royalty to oust the Pakatan-led Perak state government.  The UMNO elite then trained their eyes on Selangor, which had also fallen to Pakatan during the 2008 general election.

Speculation has been red-hot that Selangor UMNO chieftains concoted an embezzlement conspiracy with the MACC to trigger the collapse of the state government. A long list of Selangor Pakatan leaders were investigated for corruption and cheating charges. One of these was Ean Yong, the Seri Kembangan assemblyman and Beng Hock’s boss, who was eventually cleared of all allegations.

But on July 15, 2009, Beng Hock was called in to give his statement as a witness into Ean’s activities. Beng Hock never left the MACC office at the Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam alive again. His body was found on the 5th floor podium, believed to have fallen from the 14th floor MACC office, where he had been interrogated.

MACC immediately insisted it was suicide but his family were sure foul play was involved. He was due to register his marriage with Soh on July 16, the day his body was discovered. Soh was then pregnant with their child and has since given birth to a son. But the Teohs are still passionate about justice for Beng Hock, who must have died a terribly painful death.

“It is both a racial and a non-racial thing. It is true, Najib knows he can’t get make headway with the Chinese anymore but even if he can, do you think he would dare upset the MACC guys. They know so  much about him and the other UMNO leaders. All the MACC officers need to do is to leak out all their dirty deals and the UMNO warlords are finished,” PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

“I am not sure what is the next move for the Teohs but I amsure they won’t give up. I hope the Ahmad Sarbani family will also take note and not be discouraged. Instead of throwing in the towel and accept that you can’t beat BN, we must make sure we get the judiciary right and cleaned up. Or else, there will another death and another and another.

RCI Report

Most Malaysians had already smelled a rat when Najib refused to allow the Teoh family or the Bar Council to have a say in the panel selection for the RCI. The PM handpicked the members himself. Fearing the worst, the Teohs boycotted the RCI. Sad to say, their worst concerns did materialize.

“The conclusion of suicde is speculative and unconvincing. The use of violent tactics by the MACC supports the complaints made by the lawyers and the opposition for decades that enforcement bodies are acting outside the law. Brutality has become a habit with the MACC, the police and other such bodies. Yet, the BN government refuses to reform these institutions,” N Surendran, a human rights lawyer, told Malaysia Chronicle.

In the 124-page report released Thursday the commission (right, below) said that three MACC officers had probably tried to coerce him into making a statement that it was Selangor state executive council member Ean Yong Hian Wah, Teoh’s boss, who had “directed him to commit unlawful acts in handling” an allocation.

“This session must have been very taxing on Teoh both physically and mentally.

“He had been deprived of sleep throughout that night and into the morning and had had to endure persistent, aggressive and unscrupulous questioning.

“His physical condition as described by Ashraf when fetching him the glass of water was that Teoh had moved to sit in an upright position very slowly.

“This fourth interrogation session, to our minds, must have been the final straw that broke the camel’s back.”

The commission made some recommendations for the change of attitude of MACC officers as there were “serious weaknesses” at the Selangor MACC office.

These include:

a)brutality in interviews

b)poor interview skills

c)poor reporting

d)arrogance

e)poor relationship with the public and other agencies

f)insufficient use and understanding of the capacity of modern technology

g)possible problems with interaction between intelligence-gathering and evidence gathering

h)lack of discipline

- Malaysia Chronicle

SABM Supports Parents’ Right to Register Child as ‘Anak Malaysia’

Written by straits-mongrel

Wednesday, 08 June 2011 10:44

1. We refer to the news reports on Tuesday, 7 June, on the rejection by the National Registration Department [NRD] to register the daughter of Mr. M. Ramachandran and YB Hannah Yeoh, as “Anak Malaysia”. 2. We unreservedly support the right of the parents to determine the identity of their beloved child. We wholeheartedly commend Hannah and Rama for the courage to stand by their principles. Their stand to remind us of our common identity as human beings, and as members of this collective called Malaysia, deserves the highest accolade. 3. Some two years ago, the Government announced that it was reviewing the need for the category “ethnicity” in all official forms. We wonder as to the status of this review exercise? Obviously the NRD has not acted on this decision yet. In this era of information technology, the NRD’s reason that their system is not designed to capture a new “identity” can only be considered lame!

Couple’s ‘Anak Malaysia’ bid

By Debra Chong

June 09, 2011

If the authorities are truly sincere about 1Malaysia,this surely is the roadmap to follow.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — The DAP pledged today to back Hannah Yeoh and Ramachandran Muniandy all the way to court in their bid to register their newborn child as an “Anak Malaysia” for her official ethnicity.

In a statement today, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he has directed the party’s legal adviser, Gobind Singh Deo, to represent the interracial couple in court should they decide to pursue the case.

“Forcing Hannah (picture) and Ramachandran to choose either Indian or Chinese is repugnant when they just want their child to be known as Malaysian,” Lim said.

“By deliberately forcing us into ethnic boxes BN is not celebrating diversity nor creating a common Malaysian identity, but opportunistically playing divide-and-rule politics,” the Penang chief minister added, criticising the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Beng Hock NOT SUICIDAL, psychiatrist tells RCI

By Boo Su-Lyn TMI

May 10, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 — Teoh Beng Hock was in the lowest risk group for suicide when he entered the custody of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), a forensic psychiatrist said in his report to a royal panel investigating the DAP political aide’s death today.

Senior officer tells of divine retribution for MACC

“….this is a big case, it involves a person’s life, if (we) lie once, then we need to lie many times more to support the lie”.

Teoh El Sen | May 9, 2011 Free Malaysia Today

A senior MACC officer said she pleaded to her boss to instruct his subordinates not to lie

KUALA LUMPUR: A senior Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer had pleaded to her superior to order his subordinates not to give false statements in the Teoh Beng Hock case.

Senior investigating officer Azian Umar, 31, said this today when questioned by Bar Council’s Cheow Wee at the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) investigating Teoh’s death.

Cheow read out a SMS text message sent by Azian to Selangor MACC investigation department chief Hairul Ilham Hamzah in which she said “this is a big case, it involves a person’s life, if (we) lie once, then we need to lie many times more to support the lie”.

In the SMS, in which she expressed sadness at what had happened in Teoh’s case, she also said the incident with Teoh may be God’s “divine retribution” to MACC.

“Kita terlalu mengejar material, kita abaikan perintahnya…. (we were chasing after materials, we had neglected His commandments),” she wrote in the message.

Azian, who was one of the first MACC officers called during the early stages of the RCI in February, was this afternoon recalled for the Bar Council to question her on several “important issues”.

When questioned on the reasons she sent the SMS on July 17 at 7pm, a day after Teoh’s death, Azian confessed that there were meetings where officers were instructed to “lie”.

On April 27, assistant superintendent Azeem Hafeez Jamaluddin shocked the RCI by confessing to being instructed to cover up the role of the then Selangor MACC deputy director, Hishamuddin Hashim.

“The operation (against Selangor exco Ean Yong Hian Wah) was led by Hishamuddin, but in the discussion, Hishamuddin asked that it be said the operation was ordered by Hairul (Ilham Hamzah),” Azeem had said.

Senior MACC Officer fingered in bid to cover up role, RCI told

UPDATED @ 07:02:12 AM 28-04-2011 By Boo Su-Lyn (TMI) April 27, 2011

Why would a senior government officer try to cover up his official role unless….

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — An anti-graft officer admitted to being instructed to cover up the role of his superior in the investigation against Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, the Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) heard today.

Hishamuddin Hashim

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) assistant superintendent Azeem Hafeez Jamaluddin said Hishamuddin Hashim, who was then Selangor MACC deputy director, had ordered him some time after Teoh’s death in 2009 to testify that another graftbuster had led the probe against Ean Yong instead.

“The operation was led by Hishamuddin, but in the discussion, Hishamuddin asked that it be said the operation was ordered by Hairul (Ilham Hamzah),” said Azeem at the inquiry today, referring to the Selangor MACC investigation unit head.

“So you were ordered to say that the operation was led by Hairul Ilham, not Hishamuddin?” asked Bar Council lawyer Cheow Wee.

“Yes,” Azeem answered.

Teoh was found on July 16, 2009 sprawled on the fifth-floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after he was questioned overnight by MACC officers at their then-Selangor headquarters on the 14th floor.

Teoh, 30, was the political secretary to Ean Yong, who is the Seri Kembangan assemblyman from the DAP, at the time of his death.

The graftbusters were investigating a claim that his boss was abusing state funds.

A senior MACC officer testified yesterday, however, that the MACC had failed to find evidence to prove Ean Yong had abused state funds, leading to the public prosecutor calling for it to drop investigations.

MACC headquarters’ acting senior superintendent Ahmad Shafik Abdul Rahman said investigations showed that government projects in Ean Yong’s constituency had been completed in 2008.

Commissioner Datuk T. Selventhiranathan said last Wednesday that Hishamuddin had lied at the inquiry when he earlier claimed ignorance of police reports against his officers, which accused them of physical abuse.

Shah Alam police CID chief DSP Kamaruddin Ismail has testified that he had written a letter to Hishamuddin in 2008, requesting that his officers attend a police identification parade.

Kamaruddin also complained of trouble getting cooperation from the MACC in abuse complaints that were lodged against the graftbusters before Teoh’s death.

He said the national anti-graft body’s failure to provide the necessary documentation had caused several investigation cases, which were opened against the Selangor MACC from 2005 till 2009, to stall.

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo reportedly said last month that there were 59 police reports between 2005 and 2010 which accused the MACC of using force in its interrogations.

Selventhiranathan said recently that 21 out of those 59 police reports were against the Selangor branch.

Azeem said today there was also a meeting of MACC officers, which was chaired by then MACC investigations director Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdull, where they discussed how to testify at the coroner’s inquest into Teoh’s death.

Shukri is currently the MACC deputy chief commissioner.

“The orders were to give testimonies as per our police statements,” said Azeem, 27.

He added that the meeting was attended by many anti-graft officers, including Hishamuddin, Hairul and MACC investigating officer Mohd Anuar Ismail, as well as MACC prosecution head Datuk Abdul Razak Musa and DPP Kevin Morais.

Azeem, who wore a red tie, said Hairul was quiet when Hishamuddin instructed him to testify that Hairul headed the investigation against Ean Yong.

Cheow also read out an SMS, or mobile text message, that MACC officer Zurinawati Zulkifli had sent to Azeem, saying: “Tomorrow, Datuk B1 (Shukri) wants to meet everyone with DPP Kevin.”

The criminal law specialist then read out Azeem’s SMS reply to Zurinawati, saying: “For what? Later stories will become different as long as HH (Hishamuddin Hashim) is there.”

Cheow said another MACC officer called Nellmy Amrizal had texted Azeem, saying she was at a meeting with Shukri and MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed, where she was briefed on how to answer questions at the inquest.

“But you know right, the truth will come out anyway? No use planning,” said Azeem, reading out his SMS reply to Nellmy.

RCI chairman Tan Sri James Foong said Hishamuddin, who is currently the Negri Sembilan MACC director, appeared to play a major role in the investigation against Ean Yong.

“Hairul is like someone who takes orders. Anuar is also the same?” asked Foong.

“Yes,” said Azeem, who has cropped hair.

He added, however, that he did not see Hishamuddin in the Selangor MACC office the night before Teoh’s body was found.

Azeem, who is based in the Selangor MACC branch, said no officers lied about Teoh’s death.

“It (the lie) was about operation orders. That’s all; that Hairul led it,” said Azeem.

Hishamuddin has claimed ignorance of police reports against his officers, accusing them of physical abuse.

Shah Alam police CID chief DSP Kamaruddin Ismail testified recently, however, that he had written a letter on May 27, 2008, to Hishamuddin requesting that his officers attend a police identification parade.

Hishamuddin has also denied forcing Teoh to sit on a window ledge in the MACC office to scare him.

The senior graftbuster further denied interrogating Teoh by blindfolding the young man or shaking him by holding his belt.

Cheow has said a poison-pen letter had accused Hishamuddin of having a “trademark technique” when interrogating witnesses, which involved holding their belt from the front and shaking them.

Hishamuddin, who has served the national anti-graft body for 19 years, denied the allegation, calling it slanderous.

He also said he had never interrogated Teoh.

SO WHAT IS HE TRYING TO HIDE???

http://malaysianunplug.blogspot.com/2009/08/teoh-beng-hocks-death-fingers-pointing.html

http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/25886/84/