Family of slain DAP aide Teoh Beng Hock finally meet PM Anwar, father now in wheelchair and son he never knew all grown up

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 1 — The family of Teoh Beng Hock got their day with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today, more than a decade after his abrupt death from a fall outside the Selangor office of anti-corruption investigators in 2009.

Accompanied by their lawyer Ramkarpal Singh, the family had a closed door session with the prime minister to discuss what they considered a long delay in the pursuit of justice for Beng Hock’s death 15 years ago.

“During the meeting, we raised several issues regarding the delay in the investigation of Teoh Beng Hock’s death and expressed the family’s dissatisfaction with this delay.

“A request was made to the prime minister to expedite this process by instructing the police to complete the investigation promptly,” Ramkarpal told reporters after the meeting here this afternoon.

He added that during the meeting, Anwar acknowledged the family’s concerns and promised to raise the issue with Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain soon.

Ramkarpal, a former deputy minister, said the government would inform him of further developments so he could convey them to the family as their lawyer.

Beng Hock’s younger sister, Lee Lan also spoke to the press and said the prime minister assured the family that the investigation would be carried out independently and professionally.

“The family also suggested that the government invite international experts to assist with the police investigation.

“The prime minister gave the police the opportunity to suggest whether they needed international criminal investigation experts.

“He also said that this time the investigation would be conducted independently and professionally. If necessary, the police would invite international experts to reinvestigate this case,” she said.

Lee Lan said the family has been disappointed with how investigations have been proceeding since 2018.

She noted that past police investigations were under Section 342 of the Penal Code, saying the provision did not adequately address the wrongful confinement aspect of the case.

Section 342 covers the unlawful restraint of a person, and those found guilty can be punished with jail time up to one year, a maximum fine of RM 2,000, or both.

Lee Lan said Anwar also agreed to reopen investigations into her brother’s “murder”.

Apart from Lee Lan, the other Teoh family that attended the meeting with Anwar today comprised their father Leong Hwee, mother Teng Shuw Hor, and Beng Hock’s son Er Jia son.

Beng Hock, a former journalist turned aide to former Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, died after being held for overnight questioning at the then Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office in Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam on July 16, 2009.

He had been called to provide information as a witness and not a suspect into a suspected corruption case.

In July 2011, a Royal Commission of Inquiry concluded that his death was a suicide.

However, in September 2014, the Court of Appeal ruled that Beng Hock’s death from a fall was caused by “an unlawful act or acts by unknown individuals.”

The High Court is scheduled to rule on the Teohs’ application for a judicial review on his death this October 29.

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