Let’s start with those attacking politicians for “jumping to conclusions,” “racialising the issue,” “stirring hate against the authorities,” and insisting that we “wait for a full investigation.”
There is only one major problem.
Can we trust the investigators?
A. Kugan died in police custody from “drinking water.” Choong Soy Soy died in police custody after “slipping in the toilet.” Francis Udayappan “escaped prison, jumped into a river, and died” (how he was beheaded is yet unknown).
A racial issue? What about Adi Anwar, who was beaten half to death?
Is this really the first case of abuse involving the MACC? Or do they have a reputation for abuse?
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has lodged a report to counter allegations that an Umno division leader was assaulted by MACC officers during detention.
Earlier, the 46-year-old division leader from Maran, Pahang, reported that he was punched in the head, shoulder and stomach during his four-day remand in Kuantan.
He also claimed that he was forced to strip naked, lie and roll on the floor besides being asked to do squats and sing the national anthem repeatedly.
In his report, he also claimed an officer pressed him against the wall and threatened to arrest his wife and ask her to strip if he refused to confess that he had handed money to Umno members.
Also, Simpang Renggam Municipal Council administrator:
A Simpang Renggam Municipal Council administrator has accused Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission officers of physically abusing him during an investigation into a bribery case.
The 29-year-old alleged he was blindfolded, punched, kicked and had his clothes removed while held in a dark room for 12 hours by MACC officials here on Tuesday.
“I was told to remove my ring and wrist watch. They used my tie to blindfold me and took me to a room.
“There two officers questioned me about a working trip to Bandung, Indonesia, organised by contractors in April. I told them I did not know anything about this trip, and this was when the beatings began.”
Zul, who came to the New Straits Times office here yesterday, alleged that the officers at one time removed all his clothes and forced him to lie on the floor before one of them stepped on his shoulders.
He claimed he was taken to an officer’s room where he was told that he was the main witness in a bribery case they were investigating. “One of the officers warned me not to reveal what had taken place during the interrogation.”
Are we seeing a pattern? Let’s not forget that MACC probably consists largely of ex-cops.
The most pertinent question: So many incidents. Any single arrest for abuse of power?
Not a *single* law enforcement officer has been arrested, charged, or tried for inflicting grevious bodily harm.
To those talking about selfish politicians exploiting this death, I kindly request you take a reality check.
In honest to God truth, I don’t know what happened to Teo Beng Hock.
But I have read enough about how his lawyer M Manoharan (the recent ISA detainee who last spoke to him) said he was composed and well, how his boss YB Ean Yong Hian Wah said he had been calm and how distraught his fiancee was to consider suicide an extremely remote possibility.
Even in the very unlikely event that Teo threw himself out of the window, I don’t think anyone will believe that it didn’t have something to do with what the MACC did to him from 5pm to 3.45am.
It’s simply a case of credibility. Maybe if the unsolved deaths and abuses above were resolved to the greater satisfaction of the public, we might believe what the MACC and police have to say on this matter.
Under the circumstances though, Malaysian law enforcement has time and again forfeited all credibility and transparency. The public outcry at this is not due to some dumb politicians trying to make a quick profit. It’s due to a chronic history of abuse of power and lack of accountability.
Again, who knows what happened. RPK has one possible version. Zorro writes of possible torture and suspicious lack of blood. Maybe he was killed and thrown out the window. It’s all hard to say.
I just wish we had a more credible police force investigating.
Unless there is a true amount of transparency and clear proof regarding this case, public discontent will only continue to rise.
I’ll see you at the solidarity gathering at the Kelana Jaya stadium this Sunday at 4pm. Also possibly a vigil tonight, but I’m looking for confirmation of that and will update here if anything.
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