Federal judge heads Commission of Inquiry into Teoh's death

PUTRAJAYA: Federal Court judge Tan Sri James Foong will head the Commission of Inquiry into the Teoh Beng Hock case.

The terms of reference of the commission are:

* Whether the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had adhered to the rules and regulations during its interrogation of Teoh and followed Standing Orders and best practices. The commission is to recommend a suitable course of action to be taken, if necessary.

* The panel will also investigate Teoh's death and the circumstances leading to it.

The other members of the panel are former Federal judge Datuk Abdul Kadir Sulaiman, ex-Court of Appeal judge Datuk T. Selventhiranathan, renowned forensic pathologist Datuk Dr Bhupinder Singh and Cyberjaya Universiti College of Medical Sciences Profesor Dr Mohamed Hatta Shaharom.

Datuk Saripuddin Kasim, the director-general of the Legal Affairs division of the Prime Minister's Department is the secretary of the commission.

The other members are Senior Federal Counsel Amarjeet Singh, and deputy public prosecutors Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud and Kwan Li Sa.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said in a statement Wednesday that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin had consented to the setting up of the commission.

"The commission will have three months from the date of its appointment to complete its inquiry. The report is be submitted to the King," he added.

Teoh, who was political secretary to Seri Kemnbangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on July 16, 2009, on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, after being questioned by the Selangor MACC.

A Coroner's Court returned an open verdict on the case on Jan 5.

RCI Should Stick to the Necessary

The inquest to investigate and ascertain the late Teoh Beng Hock’s cause of death has drawn to a conclusion. Coroner Azmi Muntapha gave an open verdict whereby no conclusive decision can be drawn based on the various circumstantial as well as factual evidences.

After more than a year of intense argument from the opposing teams, the learned Coroner has surely more than sufficient time and facts to put enough thought to his verdict. He would have examined all angles of the case before coming up with a conclusive decision. With the Coroner’s verdict out, all speculation and allegations on the late Teoh Beng Hock’s death should cease as dragging the issue further could damage the credibility of the courts as well as the government institutions.

Lengthening the matter allows opportunists and politicians with vested interest to harp on the issue and blow up the matter for political mileage. By playing with the sentiments of the public, this group of people breeds mistrusts and fan the flames of hatred in our society.

Due to overwhelming pressure, the Prime Minister announced last week that a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) would be established to study the investigating procedures of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and to determine whether there was a violation of human rights in the investigation process involving Teoh. Unfortunately, certain quarters took matters into their own hands when they called on the government to ascertain the cause of Teoh’s death in the RCI as well.

This is not only unnecessary but a total waste of time and government funds. After all, the learned Coroner has already come up with a conclusive decision after hearing arguments from equally learned Counsels. Why not move on from that episode so that other more worthwhile and important issues take centre stage?

Sometimes, it is good to let bygones be bygones so that the country is able to develop and progress in other areas. Insisting that the RCI uncover the cause of Teoh’s death is not only futile and unproductive but it borders on the edge of insanity. The famous Albert Einstein once said that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.

from : concern citizen

Royal Commission of Inquiry for case of Teoh Beng Hock

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government will set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the death of former political secretary Teoh Beng Hock who was found dead in 2009.
Beng Hock, the political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah was found dead on July 16, 2009 on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, Selangor after he had given a statement at the office of the Selangor MACC on the 14th floor of the same building.

The Prime Minister said the RCI would be set up with special terms and the government would appoint a select list of members for the panel, comprising prominent and respectable people.

Najib told reporters here on Friday that the appointment of the panel was expected to be made after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

On Jan 5, Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas had said there was insufficient evidence to prove that the political aide's death was a homicide, and also ruled out suicide.

The 17-month inquest into the death of Teoh Beng Hock ended with the Coroner's Court returning an open verdict which meant the court could not ascertain how the 30-year-old political aide had died. - BERNAMA

Read more: Royal Commission of Inquiry for case of Teoh Beng Hock http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/RoyalCommissionofInquiryforcaseofTeohBengHock/Article/#ixzz1BLpX6dWK