After re-opened investigation for almost 3 years, will the police further delay the investigation?
Nearly three years after the government ordered the police to re-investigate the death of Teoh Beng Hock in July 2018, Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy urges the newly appointed Inspector-General of the Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani to explain when the police are going to complete the probe and make public the result.
In the past two years, we have incessantly followed up the progress of the re-investigation through parliamentary questions, press statements, engagements with the police and the Attorney-General Chamber. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs refused to disclose details of the investigation on the grounds that ” it is still under investigation and not convenient to disclose details.”
In August 2019, we lodged a police report at the Petaling Jaya Police District Headquarters, demanding the police to instruct the police to investigate the case under section 302(murder) or section 304 (culpable homicide) of the penal code. The police failed to inform the complainant about the investigation progress.
In August 2020, we submitted a memorandum to the AG Chamber, urging the AG to study the verdict of the court of appeal and the royal commission watch report of the Bar Council, change the investigation angle from unlawful confinement to either murder to culpable homicide. The AG staff never answer our follow-up communication.
The police force is an important law enforcement institution tasked to uphold the rule of law. It has statutory duty to inform the victim family and the complainant about the progress of the investigation, and bring the suspects who caused the death of Teoh to justice. How can the police gain the confidence of the public if it continues to delay the probe into the case that shocked the nation 12 years ago?
We again urge the IGP to take full responsibility and immediately announce the result of the re-investigation into the death of Teoh. The police must show that it is investigating the case in an impartial, professional manner and in accordance with law of the land.
Ng Yap Hwa
Chairperson
Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy