Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has agreed to reopen investigations into the death of DAP aide Teoh Beng Hock.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the decision was made following a Cabinet meeting earlier today, with the endorsement of the ministers present.
At a press conference at the party headquarters on Wednesday (June 20), Lim says there is a need for a fresh investigation into the death of Teoh.
“We have asked for the reinvestigation into the death of Teoh Beng Hock to seek justice for the family,” he said.
“We will need to consult the Attorney-General and the details on the formal structure will be clearer later.
“There is an obvious need to determine the cause of death and to ensure that justice can be done,” Lim added.
DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang and organising secretary Anthony Loke were also present at the press conference.
Also seen was Teoh’s younger sister Teoh Lee Lan.
Teoh, who was an aide to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, fell to his death at the then-Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office in Shah Alam on July 16, 2009, after overnight questioning by MACC officers.
Magistrate cum coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas had given an “open verdict” on Jan 5, 2011, that the death of the political aide was neither a suicide nor was it a homicide.
A Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report concluded in July 2011 that Teoh was driven to commit suicide and blamed intensive interrogation by three MACC officers.
However, none of the three officers was ever convicted over Teoh’s death.
However, in September 2014, the Court of Appeal ruled that the “open verdict” was wrong.
The panel held that Teoh’s death by falling was caused as a result of, or accelerated by, acts by persons unknown, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers involved in his arrest and the investigation.
It had also directed the Inspector-General of Police and Attorney-General’s Chambers to reopen the investigation into Teoh’s death.
However, the Attorney-General’s Chambers found no criminal elements in his death.
Following the verdict, MACC agreed to pay RM600,000 to Teoh’s family to settle a negligence suit they brought against the commission.
Pakatan Harapan had pledged to investigate Teoh’s case by setting up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) in the first 100 days of the coalition taking over the government.