GEORGE TOWN: The Home Ministry should exert pressure on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to reopen investigations into the 2009 death of Teoh Beng Hock, says Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh (pic).

As the lawyer for Teoh’s family, Ramkarpal said he had written a letter to Attorney General Tommy Thomas on July 6, 2018, to carry out further investigations into Teoh’s death.

He added that the findings made by the Court of Appeal based on the evidence found showed that there might be foul play in Teoh’s case.

Ramkarpal said that deputy public prosecutor Amir Nasruddin had written a letter dated July 17, 2018, to IGP Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun stating that the AG is of the view that a further investigation of Teoh’s death has to be carried out.

He also said that the statement by Muhyiddin in October contradicts the AG as Thomas had already made the decision that Teoh’s case must be reopened and had directed the IGP to carry out the investigation.

Muhyiddin had on Oct 25 commented that the AG must direct the Home Ministry to decide to reopen Teoh’s case.

Ramkarpal added that he had brought up this issue at the recent Dewan Rakyat seating and will bring it up again in the next seating in March 2019 if there is any failure to carry out further investigation.

“I urge the police to reopen and reinvestigate Teoh's death and to update the status of Teo’s death investigation as soon as possible,” said Ramkarpal at a press conference on Saturday (Dec 15)

Teoh, 30, was found dead on July 16, 2009, on the fifth-floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after giving a statement at the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office.

Teoh, who was an aide to Selangor exco member Ean Yong Hian Wah, had apparently fallen to his death after he was taken in for questioning over a corruption probe.

Magistrate cum coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas delivered an “open verdict” on Jan 5, 2011, that Teoh’s death was not a suicide or homicide.

However, in September 2014, the Court of Appeal ruled that the “open verdict” was not right.

The panel held that Teoh’s death by falling was caused as a result of, or accelerated by, acts by persons unknown, and directed the IGP and AGC to reopen the case.