The New Straits Times
by Dharshini Balan and Farrah Naz Karim
Ghazali said he only found out about the police recommendation on an online news portal.
Ahmad Sarbaini, 56, was found dead on the first floor of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office in Jalan Cochrane here on April 6.
He was among 62 Customs officers detained earlier by the MACC in a graft probe involving losses of up to RM2.2 billion in under-declared taxes. The Customs officers were mainly investigated for graft and money laundering.
Ahmad Sarbaini was released on bail but returned to the MACC office on April 6 allegedly to meet the investigating officer in his case.
Hours after his body was found, MACC investigations director Datuk Mustafar Ali had said that Ahmad Sarbaini came on a motorcycle at 8.26am. He allegedly came of his own accord.
Mustafar had told reporters that Ahmad Sarbaini waited in the lobby for about an hour before an officer escorted him to the investigating officer’s room on the third floor.
The officerwaited with him for almost an hour before he left Ahmad Sarbaini alone for a few minutes to look for the investigating officer. When he returned, the Customs officerwas missing.
He was later found sprawled on the badminton court on the first floor.
Police had classified the case as a sudden death as it was believed that he had jumped to his death.
Ahmad Sarbaini’s family and friends, however, refused to believe he had committed suicide as he was said to be a religious man.
One of his colleagues even revealed that he played tennis with Ahmad Sarbaini the day before he died and that he had not shown any signs of being suicidal.
Last month, his family lawyers submitted new evidence to the police which they believed could clear Ahmad Sarbaini’s name in the graft investigation and suspicions that he had committed suicide.
Lawyer Ghazali had denied that Ahmad Sarbani was involved in money laundering as per the allegations against him.
by Dharshini Balan and Farrah Naz Karim
KUALA
LUMPUR: Police have recommended that an inquest be held to determine
the circumstances leading to the death of Selangor Customs assistant
director Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed.
The decision to file for an inquest was agreed to by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail after studying the investigation papers submitted by the Kuala Lumpur police.
“I have advised them (police) to file a case at the magistrate’s court for an inquest.
“When the cause of death cannot be determined, an inquest or an open inquiry has to be held,” Gani said.
The lawyer representing Ahmad Sarbaini’s family, Ghazali Mohd Ramli, refused to comment on this latest development, saying he has yet to receive anything official from the police.
The decision to file for an inquest was agreed to by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail after studying the investigation papers submitted by the Kuala Lumpur police.
“I have advised them (police) to file a case at the magistrate’s court for an inquest.
“When the cause of death cannot be determined, an inquest or an open inquiry has to be held,” Gani said.
The lawyer representing Ahmad Sarbaini’s family, Ghazali Mohd Ramli, refused to comment on this latest development, saying he has yet to receive anything official from the police.
Ghazali said he only found out about the police recommendation on an online news portal.
Ahmad Sarbaini, 56, was found dead on the first floor of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office in Jalan Cochrane here on April 6.
He was among 62 Customs officers detained earlier by the MACC in a graft probe involving losses of up to RM2.2 billion in under-declared taxes. The Customs officers were mainly investigated for graft and money laundering.
Ahmad Sarbaini was released on bail but returned to the MACC office on April 6 allegedly to meet the investigating officer in his case.
Hours after his body was found, MACC investigations director Datuk Mustafar Ali had said that Ahmad Sarbaini came on a motorcycle at 8.26am. He allegedly came of his own accord.
Mustafar had told reporters that Ahmad Sarbaini waited in the lobby for about an hour before an officer escorted him to the investigating officer’s room on the third floor.
The officerwaited with him for almost an hour before he left Ahmad Sarbaini alone for a few minutes to look for the investigating officer. When he returned, the Customs officerwas missing.
He was later found sprawled on the badminton court on the first floor.
Police had classified the case as a sudden death as it was believed that he had jumped to his death.
Ahmad Sarbaini’s family and friends, however, refused to believe he had committed suicide as he was said to be a religious man.
One of his colleagues even revealed that he played tennis with Ahmad Sarbaini the day before he died and that he had not shown any signs of being suicidal.
Last month, his family lawyers submitted new evidence to the police which they believed could clear Ahmad Sarbaini’s name in the graft investigation and suspicions that he had committed suicide.
Lawyer Ghazali had denied that Ahmad Sarbani was involved in money laundering as per the allegations against him.
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