By Richard Wee & Yip Xiaoheng | The Malaysian Bar

The Bar Council’s team of solicitors at the Royal Commission of Inquiry (“RCI”) investigating Teoh Beng Hock’s death (“RCI–TBH”) will provide regular updates on the proceedings. For ease of reference, all reports will bear the heading “RCI–TBH”.

23 Mar 2011 — Day 24 started with the continued examination of Anuar b Ismail. Sivaneindiren s/o Selvanandam, counsel for the Malaysian Bar, posed questions to Anuar on his irregular and inconsistent statements.  During the examination, Tan Sri James Foong, Chairman of the RCI, informed counsel that he did not need to do so, and that the RCI would not go too deep into this matter.

Anuar described Teoh Beng Hock as having been a “soft” person and therefore he could not be rough with him. Cheow Wee, counsel for Bar Council, then put it to Anuar that this meant, by implication, that Anuar would have been rough with Teoh Beng Hock had the latter been “rough”. Anuar denied this and insisted that he does not use aggression.

During his examination, Edmund Bon, counsel for the Malaysian Bar, suggested a massive cover–up by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (“MACC”) Selangor as to what had happened to Teoh Beng Hock. When challenged by Tan Sri James Foong that this was a serious allegation against an institution, Edmund Bon responded that some evidence had already been elicited and there was more to come.

Edmund Bon further alleged that there had been a deliberate attempt to de-link the investigation in relation to Merit Link Sdn Bhd when it was part of the same investigation. He put it to Anuar that the reason for this was because Teoh Beng Hock had been pressured to say what MACC had wanted him to say. Anuar went on to say that this had been the reason why Tan Boon Wah had been held for 17.5 hours over an investigation into a RM2,400 claim.

All allegations were refuted by Anuar who, throughout his evidence, reaffirmed that he had been the investigating officer for the entire operation that day, but had coordinated nothing. Anuar also claimed that, although he had been the investigating officer, he had been out of the office from approximately 8:00 pm to 12:00 pm on 15 July 2009, and asleep from 2:00 am to 8:30 am (but waking up intermittently) on 16 July 2009.

The RCI–TBH proceeding ended at approximately 5:00 pm and will recommence at 9:00 am on Thursday, 24 Mar 2011.

Counsel appearing for the Malaysian Barat today’s proceedings were Sivaneindiren s/o Selvanandam, Cheow Wee, and Edmund Bon.

Members of the public who have relevant information in relation to the RCI’s investigation into the death of Teoh Beng Hock are urged to contact Bar Council’s Team of solicitors by email at [email protected].

Source: https://www.malaysianbar.org.my/article/news/bar-news/news/rci-tbh-day-24-counsel-suggests-massive-cover-up-by-macc. Archived at https://perma.cc/T55F-YHWE