Press Statement by the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement, issued in Geneva, Switzerland on 17 March 2026
17 Years of Domestic Judicial Failure: Teoh Lee Lan Takes to the UN to Decry Government Impunity
Teoh Lee Lan, the sister of Teoh Beng Hock, addressed the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday (16 March). Speaking to representatives of 193 UN member states, she decried the Malaysian government’s 17-year impunity regarding her brother’s death and called on the international community to pressure the government into reopening an independent criminal investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Teoh Lee Lan delivered her statement under the agenda item “Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention”. This marks the first time in 17 years that Teoh Beng Hock’s family has brought his case before the highest human rights body of the UN.
In her address, she pointed out that Teoh Beng Hock was brought to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) merely as a witness to assist with an investigation, yet he ultimately met a tragic end in the building.
“In 2014, the Court of Appeal ruled his death was caused by ‘unlawful acts by unknown persons’, including officials involved in his detention. However, 17 years later, no one has been held criminally responsible. Last year, the authorities closed the investigation with ‘no further action’, ignoring the court’s findings.”
She told the state representatives that Teoh Beng Hock’s case is not an isolated incident. Over the past decade, hundreds of individuals have died in custody in Malaysia, creating a systemic pattern of impunity.
Teoh Lee Lan presented three key demands to the Human Rights Council:
- Urge the Malaysian government to reopen Teoh Beng Hock’s case through an independent criminal investigation in accordance with international standards, and to prosecute all those responsible.
- Urge the Malaysian government to accept the nine long-pending country visit requests by the UN Special Procedures*, starting with the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
- Call upon member states to raise concerns regarding deaths in custody, including this case, in their bilateral engagements with the Malaysian government.
Addressing the state representatives with profound grief, Teoh Lee Lan stated: “I have travelled thousands of miles to bring this demand for justice before you. I ask you to press for accountability.”
Koong Hui Yein, Chairperson of the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement, added that this trip to Geneva not only reflects the necessary action taken by the family and civil society to seek international attention and support following a prolonged lack of accountability, but also serves as a voice for all victims of custodial deaths in Malaysia and their families. She emphasised that the government must demonstrate the political will to thoroughly investigate the case before international pressure intensifies.
In addition to delivering the statement at the plenary session, Teoh Lee Lan and her delegation will meet with UN human rights officials, diplomatic representatives, and international human rights organisations to discuss the Teoh Beng Hock case alongside the broader situation of deaths in custody and torture, seeking wider international attention.
*Note: Although Malaysia issued a standing invitation to UN Special Procedures in 2019, signalling its willingness to accept visits from any UN experts, the Malaysian government has not honoured this commitment. This has resulted in multiple country visit requests concerning various human rights issues being shelved for extended periods. Reference: https://spinternet.ohchr.org/ViewCountryVisits.aspx?visitType=pending&lang=en
赵明福民主促进会文告，2026年3月17日于瑞士日内瓦发出
17年国内司法失效 赵丽兰登联合国控诉政府有罪不罚
赵明福胞妹赵丽兰昨日（3月16日）在瑞士日内瓦联合国人权理事会第61届会议上发言，向193个联合国成员国代表控诉大马政府在赵明福命案上长达17年的有罪不罚（impunity），并呼吁各国施压大马政府，重启独立刑事调查，以将凶手绳之以法。
赵丽兰是在人权理事会第61届会议“需要理事会注意的人权状况”议程下发言。这是赵明福家属17年来，首次将其案件带上联合国最高人权机构的殿堂。
赵丽兰在讲词中指出，赵明福当年仅是以证人身份被带返反贪会协助调查，最终却惨死在该大楼内。
“2014年，上诉庭裁定赵明福之死是由‘不明人士的非法行为’所致，其中包括参与扣留他的官员。然而，17年过去了，至今无人被追究刑事责任。去年，当局无视法庭裁决，以‘不予进一步行动’结案。”
她向各国代表表示，赵明福案并非孤例。过去十年来，大马有数百人在被扣留期间死亡，形成了一种有罪不罚现象。
赵丽兰在人权理事会提出了三大诉求：
要求大马政府透过符合国际标准的独立刑事调查，重新调查赵明福案，并提控涉案者。
敦促大马政府接受搁置已久的9个联合国特别程序（Special Procedures）专家的国家访问请求*，特别是关于法外处决（extrajudicial executions）问题专家的视察。
促请各国在与大马政府的交涉中，提出对包括本案在内的扣留所死亡事件的关注。
赵丽兰在向各国代表致辞时沉痛地表示：“我远道而来，向各位表达对正义的诉求。我恳请你们施压以追究责任。”
赵明福民主促进会主席孔慧颖补充，此次日内瓦之行，不仅反映家属与公民社会在案件长期未获公正问责下，寻求国际关注与支持的必要行动，也是为所有大马扣留所死亡案件中的受害者及其家属发声。她强调，政府必须在国际压力发酵前，展现彻查案件的政治意愿。
除了在大会上发言，赵丽兰与同行团队也将与联合国人权事务官员、外交代表及国际人权组织进行会面，讨论赵明福案及扣留所死亡和酷刑情况，寻求更广泛的国际关注。
*注：尽管马来西亚已在2019年向联合国特别程序发出了长期邀请（standing invitation），表示愿意接受任何人权专家的视察，实际上大马政府却未履行承诺，导致多个针对各项人权议题的国家访问请求被长期搁置。参阅：https://spinternet.ohchr.org/ViewCountryVisits.aspx?visitType=pending&lang=en