Transmenu powered by JoomlArt.com - Mambo Joomla Professional Templates Club

Contributed by Richard Wee & Yip Xiaoheng

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”.

5 May 2011 – Day 48 saw only one witness testifying; YB Ean Yong Hian Wah, the State Exco Member for Selangor and the State Assemblyman for Seri Kembangan.

During examination, YB Ean Yong Hian Wah confirmed that Teoh Beng Hock had been his political secretary.  He testified that on 15 July 2009, whilst he had been attending a sitting in the Dewan, he had received a text message from Teoh Beng Hock, informing him that Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (“MACC”) officers were at the office.

YB Ean Yong Hian Wah explained that he had told Teoh Beng Hock to deal with the MACC officers.  He had not gone up to the office and had spoken to Anuar b Ismail, the officer in charge.  Anuar b Ismail had not revealed what the whole investigation was about, and he had only wanted to seize a computer and laptop, in addition to bringing Teoh Beng Hock to the MACC office.  When questioned further, YB Ean Yong Hian Wah told the RCI that from his observation, the MACC officers had treated Teoh Beng Hock like a suspect.

YB Ean Yong Hian Wah testified that at about 11:30 pm on 15 July 2009, he had visited the MACC Selangor office to try to seek the release of Teoh Beng Hock, but his request had been refused.  Hairul Ilham had informed YB Ean Yong Hian Wah that they had to record Teoh Beng Hock’s statement first and he would only be released after that, at or about 3:30 am.

In the morning of 16 July 2009, YB Ean Yong Hian Wah had tried to text and call Teoh Beng Hock, but the hand phone had been switched off.  He had only come to know that something was wrong when he received calls from reporters between 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, with one reporter stating that Teoh Beng Hock had jumped off Plaza Masalam.

When asked for his perspective on Teoh Beng Hock’s personality, YB Ean Yong Hian Wah described that Teoh Beng Hock had been a dedicated, hardworking, responsible, cheerful and sociable person.

With regards to the approval of projects and programmes concerned, YB Ean Yong Hian Wah gave evidence that all approvals either emanated from him for the programmes or the District Office for infrastructure projects.  He also confirmed that he had authorised Teoh Beng Hock to sign Borang B, a confirmation of items provided for the programmes by the contractors on his behalf.

During questioning by Muhammad Shafee Md Abdullah, counsel for MACC, YB Ean Yong Hian Wah said that the initials appearing on the mystery note, alleged to be the suicide note, looked similar to Teoh Beng Hock’s initials, but he could not confirm if they had in fact been written by Teoh Beng Hock.

YB Ean Yong Hian Wah also confirmed that for infrastructure projects, he was aware that Hong Chae Enterprise had collaborated with bumiputera Class F contractors.

Towards the end of the day, MACC attempted to adduce further documents, alleging that they were evidence of the Democratic Action Party utilising government funds to finance its political activities.  The documents were rejected by the Commissioners as irrelevant.  YB Ean Yong Hian Wah also revealed that to date, MACC had not questioned him on any alleged offences.

The RCI-TBH proceeding was adjourned at approximately 3:00 pm and will recommence at 9:00 am on Monday, 9 May 2011.

Counsel appearing for Bar Council at today’s proceedings were Christopher Leong, Sivaneindiren s/o Selvanandam, Robert Low, 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 bc.rci.tbh@gmail.com.