KUALA LUMPUR (June 20): The Cabinet has agreed to reopen an investigation into the custodial death of former political aide Teoh Beng Hock.

DAP secretary general-cum-Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had also agreed to the decision.

“The Cabinet has decided to reopen the investigation. In what form, I think it is only proper for the Attorney General to decide. Of course views have been expressed on what is the best way forward, but I think we leave it for the AG to decide. So that will be communicated to the AG, on an official basis,” Lim said at a press conference today.

In July 2009, Teoh ­—  the former political aide to then Seri Kembangan State Assemblyman-cum-State Executive Ean Yong Hian Wah — was found dead on the rooftop of a building adjacent to the Shah Alam Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office a day after the anti-graft body took him into custody for questioning in relation to corruption allegations involving a sum of RM2,400.

Teoh’s younger sister Teoh Lee Lan, and Gobind Singh Deo — the Communications and Multimedia Minister and the lawyer representing the Teoh family — were also present at the press conference.

Lee Lan described the reopening of the case as the first step towards discovering the truth, bringing the perpetrators to justice and finding out the mastermind behind the "politically motivated investigation and arrest".

“The Federal Government should immediately suspend those involved in the case. Five MACC officers (former Selangor MACC deputy chief) Hishamuddin Hashim, (Selangor MACC investigations chief) Hairul Ilham Hamzah, (investigating officer) Mohd Anuar Ismail, (interrogation officer) Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus and (Klang MACC assistant enforcement officer) Zulkefly Aziz, should be investigated and prosecuted under Section 304 of the Penal Code for culpable homicide, which is in accordance with the recommendation of the Bar Council’s Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) watching brief report,” she said.

“I also urge the government to push for institutional reforms, ensuring a tragedy like Beng Hock’s will not recur in the future. These include amending Section 30 of the MACC Act to limit the interrogation time and to protect the rights of detainees, enact an anti-torture Act and provide human rights training for all enforcement officers.”

Gobind said the family had already received RM600,000 from the Malaysian government, following a settlement reached between the two parties in May 2015.

“But it (the settlement) will not impact the reopening of investigations,” he said, noting a task force to reinvestigate Beng Hock’s case was setup by the police in 2015 following the conclusion of a RCI in 2011.

“There was a reinvestigation, but I am of the view that there is a need for us to reopen it again because we do not have confidence in the report and findings of that task force,” he said.

On Sept 5, 2014, the Court of Appeal had ruled that Teoh’s death was caused by “multiple injuries from a fall from the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam as a result of, or which was accelerated by, an unlawful act or acts of persons unknown, inclusive of MACC officers who were involved in the arrest and investigation of the deceased”.