The Malaysian Insider
by Debra Chong
“We want justice for Beng Hock,” a red-eyed Lee Lan stressed repeatedly to The Malaysian Insider in a recent interview.
The accounting executive based in the Klang Valley was thrust into the role of family spokesman since her brother’s death.
“We don’t want money. We want him back. Can money bring him back?” asked the youngest of five children.
The family is strongly opposed to the view forwarded by several government pathologists that Beng Hock’s death was a suicide. They believe he died as a result of foul play and want the culprits brought to book.
“When we wanted a Royal Commission set up last year, Datuk Seri (Najib) told us that the country has laws and we must follow the law and have an inquest first.
“He said if we are still not satisfied after the inquest, he will seriously reconsider [setting up] a Royal Commission,” Lee Lan said, relating a private meeting with the prime minister on July 28 last year.
“We’re not satisfied. We want a Royal Commission. If even Anwar can get one for his ‘black eye’ case, which is not as serious like this one, why can’t we? Someone died,” she stressed.
“People have been telling me it’s no use. The government won’t take action. The government won’t give us a Royal Commission. No one will be punished.
“People have been telling me to let go and move on. How? My brother died… My mother is better now, she doesn’t cry so much but still… when she thinks of him, when she’s washing clothes, she cries,” Lee Lan spoke haltingly as she related her mother’s condition.
“Sometimes, when she’s carrying my nephew, she will say: ‘Ah, if only your father was here to see you…’ and then she’ll cry.”
The rest of the family have got on with their lives — the father works as a taxi driver, Meng Kee recently transferred home after being promoted to branch manager at a golfing equipment company, and Lee Lan quit working at an auditing firm here after a change of management — but the 57-year-old housewife is often left at home for long periods of time and retracts into the past.
The portrait of Beng Hock that Teng Shuw Hor cradles in court occupies a spot in the family home in Malacca, but she has another she keeps in her bedroom.
“She leans it against the headboard when she sleeps,” Lee Lan disclosed.
The Teohs were dismayed at the direction the inquest was heading, especially after the MACC’s British forensic expert, Dr Peter Vanezis, backed three local pathologists on their suicide theory.
Lee Lan grew angry recalling the MACC’s attempt to block potentially vital evidence from being presented in the inquest earlier this year, and slammed its legal affairs director, Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, for a callous remark.
“You remember Datuk Razak said the result was now 4-0, like the World Cup? How can he compare someone’s death to football? How is that professional?” she demanded.
The family was heartened when Dr Pornthip finally confirmed she will turn up to give evidence at the inquest in person, squelching talk by detractors, including minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.
The 54-year-old Thai pathologist is the only forensic expert on record who supported the family’s claim of foul play.
Her willingness to testify after months of delay has renewed their flagging confidence in the pursuit of justice.
The family is aware that even with an RCI, there may be no prosecution charges against anyone.
“What else can I do? I can only hope. Who else will remember Beng Hock?” Lee Lan asked.
“I wish someone would tell me what to do. Can you?” she added, pointedly.
by Debra Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — For Teoh Beng Hock’s family, there can be no closure with just the end of his inquest, expected to wrap up next month after Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand reports her autopsy findings in the coroner’s court.
The dead political aide’s family has been unhappy with how the inquest has been conducted so far, and will push Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to live up to his pledge and set up an independent Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to probe the suspicious circumstances surrounding Beng Hock’s fall a year ago.
Beng Hock’s broken body was found last July 16, nine floors below the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) Selangor headquarters where he had been taken in for questioning exactly a year ago today.
A father-to-be, the 30-year-old was due to register his marriage to his pregnant sweetheart the same day.
The dead political aide’s family has been unhappy with how the inquest has been conducted so far, and will push Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to live up to his pledge and set up an independent Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to probe the suspicious circumstances surrounding Beng Hock’s fall a year ago.
Beng Hock’s broken body was found last July 16, nine floors below the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) Selangor headquarters where he had been taken in for questioning exactly a year ago today.
A father-to-be, the 30-year-old was due to register his marriage to his pregnant sweetheart the same day.
“We want justice for Beng Hock,” a red-eyed Lee Lan stressed repeatedly to The Malaysian Insider in a recent interview.
The accounting executive based in the Klang Valley was thrust into the role of family spokesman since her brother’s death.
“We don’t want money. We want him back. Can money bring him back?” asked the youngest of five children.
The family is strongly opposed to the view forwarded by several government pathologists that Beng Hock’s death was a suicide. They believe he died as a result of foul play and want the culprits brought to book.
“When we wanted a Royal Commission set up last year, Datuk Seri (Najib) told us that the country has laws and we must follow the law and have an inquest first.
“He said if we are still not satisfied after the inquest, he will seriously reconsider [setting up] a Royal Commission,” Lee Lan said, relating a private meeting with the prime minister on July 28 last year.
“We’re not satisfied. We want a Royal Commission. If even Anwar can get one for his ‘black eye’ case, which is not as serious like this one, why can’t we? Someone died,” she stressed.
“People have been telling me it’s no use. The government won’t take action. The government won’t give us a Royal Commission. No one will be punished.
“People have been telling me to let go and move on. How? My brother died… My mother is better now, she doesn’t cry so much but still… when she thinks of him, when she’s washing clothes, she cries,” Lee Lan spoke haltingly as she related her mother’s condition.
“Sometimes, when she’s carrying my nephew, she will say: ‘Ah, if only your father was here to see you…’ and then she’ll cry.”
The rest of the family have got on with their lives — the father works as a taxi driver, Meng Kee recently transferred home after being promoted to branch manager at a golfing equipment company, and Lee Lan quit working at an auditing firm here after a change of management — but the 57-year-old housewife is often left at home for long periods of time and retracts into the past.
The portrait of Beng Hock that Teng Shuw Hor cradles in court occupies a spot in the family home in Malacca, but she has another she keeps in her bedroom.
“She leans it against the headboard when she sleeps,” Lee Lan disclosed.
The Teohs were dismayed at the direction the inquest was heading, especially after the MACC’s British forensic expert, Dr Peter Vanezis, backed three local pathologists on their suicide theory.
Lee Lan grew angry recalling the MACC’s attempt to block potentially vital evidence from being presented in the inquest earlier this year, and slammed its legal affairs director, Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, for a callous remark.
“You remember Datuk Razak said the result was now 4-0, like the World Cup? How can he compare someone’s death to football? How is that professional?” she demanded.
The family was heartened when Dr Pornthip finally confirmed she will turn up to give evidence at the inquest in person, squelching talk by detractors, including minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.
The 54-year-old Thai pathologist is the only forensic expert on record who supported the family’s claim of foul play.
Her willingness to testify after months of delay has renewed their flagging confidence in the pursuit of justice.
The family is aware that even with an RCI, there may be no prosecution charges against anyone.
“What else can I do? I can only hope. Who else will remember Beng Hock?” Lee Lan asked.
“I wish someone would tell me what to do. Can you?” she added, pointedly.
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