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Friday 11 September 2009

Teoh inquest: Torture testimony ruled relevant (Update)

The Star

PETALING JAYA: The High Court here dismissed an application for a judicial review to stop a witness in the Teoh Beng Hock inquest from testifying.

The application was filed by Datuk Abdul Razak Muda, who is holding a watching brief for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), to stop T. Sivanesan from testifying in the inquest.

Sivanesan alleged he had been tortured by Selangor MACC officers in Plaza Masalam in September last year.

On Wednesday, coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas allowed Sivanesan to testify despite objections by Abdul Razak as he (Azmil) had earlier ruled on Tuesday that Sivanesan’s report was relevant to the case as his alleged torture took place at Plaza Masalam and the officers involved could be the same men who interrogated Teoh.

On Thursday PJ High Court judge Justice Yeoh Wee Siam ruled that there was nothing illegal, incorrect or improper with the coroner’s ruling and asked all parties to proceed with the inquest.

The inquest, being held at the Shah Alam Magistrates Court, however has been adjourned to 9am Friday.

Sivanesan’s testimony on Wednesday could have been expunged if the High Court had ruled that his evidence was not relevant.

Teoh, who was the political secretary to Selangor executive councilor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was summoned to the MACC office located on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam here on July 15 to be questioned over the alleged irregular disbursement of state funds.

He was found dead at the building’s fifth floor service corridor the following day.

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