Teoh Beng Hock

PETALING JAYA (July 19, 2009): A member of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) advisory panel said there is "abuse of power" in the manner political aide Teoh Beng Hock was questioned.

Tan Sri Robert Phang, who revealed that the panel will meet on Thursday to discuss the case, said: "If a person has been detained and interrogated for more than six hours, past midnight and right up to early in the morning, I view this is abuse of power.

"The procedures were totally not adhered to, leading to this guy (Teoh) being left alone to sleep in the office, is totally unacceptable."

Teoh, 30, the political aide of Seri Kembangan assemblyman and Selangor state executive councillor Ean-Yong Hian Wah, was interrogated for about 11 hours and released at 3.45am on Thursday. He was found dead on a Level 5 landing of Plaza Masalam, Section 9, Shah Alam, where the MACC office is located on the 14th floor at 1.30pm.

Speaking to theSun in a telephone interview, Phang said no one would be allowed to be interrogated for more than 24 hours and even if there was a need, permission must be obtained from a magistrate to extend the detention.

"The officer in charge could have sent him back or if he (Teoh) opted to sleep in the MACC office, the officer should have got someone to keep him company or to keep an eye on him (Teoh) as a precaution and enter this in the station log," he said.

Robert Phang

Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, who chairs one of the MACC's five advisory panels, on Friday called for an urgent review of its interrogation procedures.

The chairman of the Prevention of Corruption and Consultation Panel, said he was "disturbed and very upset" that the MACC resorted to interrogating people until late into the night and early next morning.

He said: "The investigation would have ended well before midnight to allow the deceased to rest before continuing the next morning. No normal person can stand mental and physical pressure of this kind."

He also called for a full and open public enquiry to seek the truth of the circumstances under which Teoh died, with those involved be thoroughly investigated and held fully accountable.

"It is becoming increasingly difficult for my MACC panel to perform better as disturbing events like Teoh’s death will further aggravate the poor perceptions of the MACC’s performance, despite the dedicated work of most of its officers," Bernama quoted him as saying.

The MACC said Teoh was last seen alive and sleeping at 6am on a sofa on the 14th floor of its headquarters.

Ramon Navaratnam

Phang said: "Any person, very logically, after being released from interrogation would leave immediately and there is no simple reason as to why a person would want to remain."

He said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has given an assurance that he would monitor and instruct the police to ensure a thorough and fair investigation. Selangor CPO Datuk Khalid (Abu Bakar) has also assured the public that nothing will be hidden, he said.

"I thank them both for the assurance to us and the public. Of course the public fear that there will be cover-up by the police but it has become an open and serious controversy.

"I am sure the police will double their efforts to get it done as soon as possible," he said.

"Datuk Khalid is a very straightforward officer and he would tolerate no nonsense. All of us must remain calm to alllow the probe to progress smoothly."