Cops digging on Teoh's 'suicide note' again

 

The family of deceased DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock are unhappy that police are digging into his alleged suicide note again, after the Court of Appeal ruled out that Teoh's death was not suicide and instructed a re-investigation.

Police from Bukit Aman today recorded statements from Teoh's wife Soh Cher Wei and sister Teoh Lee Lan on the matter at the Batu Pahat district police headquarters.

Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching (right), who accompanied the duo, said police in their line of questioning attempted to obtain more information about the alleged suicide note.

"Police asked question like, do they have any of Teoh's handwriting, did he keep a diary, did he write birthday cards and similar questions.

"The family was not happy because all these questions have been answered five years ago," Teo, who is also a lawyer, told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Teoh was called in by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) on July 15, 2009 as a witness but was found dead the next morning after plunging from the 14th to the fifth floor.

MACC at the time disclaimed responsibility for Teoh's death and a suicide note emerged three months later, which only added to the mystery as Teoh was to register his marriage to Soh the day after his untimely death and already had their honeymoon and wedding reception planned.

The coroner's court in 2011 ruled that Teoh was driven to suicide by intensive questioning, but this was overturned by the Court of Appeal on Sept 5, 2014 which ruled out suicide and said MACC was liable for Teoh's death.

'Harass MACC, not us'

Teo said as the court has already ruled out suicide, police should instead pursue the MACC officers responsible for Teoh's death instead of "harassing" Teoh's family on old matters.

"The so-called suicide note is also suspicious as it was only found three months after the death nor can it be confirmed (to be authentic).

"If the police want to pursue it, they should be finding out who created it," she said.

Teo said the investigators were part of a special unit set up to re-look at Teoh's death following the Court of Appeal decision.

"We asked if they have questioned the MACC officers, but we were informed other investigators may be doing that," said Teo.

A royal commission of inquiry into Teoh's death had labelled the three MACC officers who questioned Teoh, namely Hishammuddin Hashim, Arman Alies and Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus "an arrogant leader, a bully and an abuser".

None of the trio has faced any action to date.