By Neville Spykerman- The Malaysian InsiderSHAH ALAM, Oct 14- A senior officer with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) told the Coroner’s Court today there were no controls at their Selangor headquarters to keep track of the whereabouts of witnesses after their statements were recorded.
State MACC director of investigations Hairul Ilham Hamzah, who was testifying at the inquest into the death of Teoh Beng Hock, initially agreed that the office was a restricted zone.
He was responding to a question by lawyer Rajpal Singh, who is holding a watching brief for the Bar Council.
However when asked if a witnesses could walk around after their statements are taken, Hairul said “there were no controls”.
He had earlier testified that both investigating officer Mohd Anuar Ismail and he had conducted an unsuccessful search for Teoh at the MACC office after they found his bag there, on the morning of July 16.
Teoh was later found dead on the fifth floor that afternoon.
MACC maintains Teoh was released after his statement was taken earlier that morning.
“I want to know how a witness can be released to do what he likes in the area. There must be some procedure, a witness cannot play hide and seek in the MACC office.” said Rajpal.
Hairul said security guards at the front counter could have let him out, adding, however, that they did not check with the guard because his shift ended at 8am.
He said they had checked with the receptionist, who replaced the guard at the front counter, whether she had seen Teoh leaving.
Hairul agreed that Teoh could not have left the office by himself and would have to go through the guard or the receptionist.
He admitted that he did not check what time Teoh had finished giving his statement that morning.
He also denied assertions by Rajpal that they had searched the area because Teoh had not gone out the front door.
Earlier, Hairul told the court he had left the headquarters at 3am, after leaving instructions for his men to record Teoh’s statement.
Hairul returned to Plaza Masalam, where the state MACC headquarters is located, at 8.25 am and was on his way to brief Selangor Deputy Director Hishamuddin Hashim when he was informed that Teoh’s bag was still on the premises.
During questioning by lawyer Gobind Singh, Hairul said he did not check the contents of the bag and was not sure if Mohd Anuar did.
Although it was not normal for witnesses to leave their bags after they were released, he did not try to contact Teoh because, he said, it did not cross his mind.
He said he did not have Teoh’s phone number but Gobind pointed out that the number was on his statement which MACC recorded, and handed the sheet of paper to Hairul.
Gobind said Hairul could have obtained the number if he wanted to, and Hairul agreed.
“So if you really wanted to find him, you could have. I put it to you that you already knew what happened to him and the evidence is concocted,” said Gobind
Hairul said he did not agree.
He said that Mohd Anuar came to him in a state of panic at 2pm and asked him to go down to the 5th floor, where Teoh’s body had been found.
Hairul said he panicked and his mind went blank for the rest of the day and he did not know what to do.
Earlier, during his testimony, Hishamuddin had told the court that he was briefed about what happened by Hairul and Mohd Anuar.
Gobind said the incident would have left a strong impression on Hairul, who should be able to remember most of what happened.
“If there was an explanation by Anuar to Hishamuddin about this incident, you would have never forgotten it. It would have stuck in your mind the rest of your life.”
Hairul replied: “Maybe.”
But Gobind pointed out that Hairul had told the court his mind went blank while Mohd Anuar could not possibly know what had happened since he had testified that he was asleep in the surau most of the night.
“So what kind of briefing could you have given? Both of you could not offer an explanation. You both didn’t see him leave.”
Gobind said Teoh’s bag, handphone and car
Hairul said he did not know but agreed that, as an investigator, he was interested to know how Teoh died.
However, Gobind contended the reason he could not remember was that there was no explanation and that MACC was responsible for Teoh’s death.
Hairul disagreed.
MACC legal director Datuk Abdul Razak Musa also cause a stir in court today when he asked to tender Teoh’s financial records, including bank statements as evidence.
Abdul Razak argued that the records would assist the court in determining Teoh’s state of mind.
Both Gobind and Rajpal strongly objected to the move.
“How is it relevant to his state of mind? Is a poor man more likely to jump off a building?” asked Gobind.
“Is he really taking the position that because Teoh was poor, he committed suicide? Can we be clear on that position?” asked Gobind,
Abdul Razak argued what Teoh earned was relevant and the records were allowed to be tendered as evidence.
The inquest continues on Friday.
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