Environs Eagles

What’s an ‘Open Verdict’?

On January 5, 2011, after an 18 months period, the inquest into the death of Teoh Beng Hock’s death was concluded with the coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas returning an Open Verdict.

The coroner also ruled out suicide or homicide as the cause of his death.

The inquest which began on July 29, 2009 was to determine how Beng Hock died while in the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s custody.

Beng Hock was asked to come in for questioning with the MACC officers on July 15, 2009 in their premise at the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam. He was denied the liberty to have the presence of his lawyer during these eerie hours of the interrogation.

Mind you, Beng Hock’s registration of marriage was the next day.

He was healthy and alive when he went in, but after an overnight ‘questioning’ session, he is found dead on the 5th floor landing in the morning of July 16.

Baffled with the coroner, Azmil Muntapha’s verdict, Citizen Journalist R. Vijay Kumar spoke to several Pakatan Rakyat leaders, some of whom are also lawyers, to seek information. This video news was also compiled for the benefit of the common concerned Malaysians, especially those whom were following the court events.

Video by R. Vijay Kumar, Citizen Journalist

Are you satisfied with the investigation in Teoh Beng Hock’s death?

Gobind Singh Deo is challenging the Attorney-General’s chambers and the Royal Malaysian Police if they have been satisfied with the level of the investigation of the death of Teoh Beng Hock, a DAP political aide.

Gobind, who is also the DAP MP for Puchong, is the Lawyer for the family of the deceased.

Teoh, 30, was found dead on July 16, 2009 on the fifth floor landing of Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam, after overnight interrogation by the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission at its office on the 14th floor of the building.

The inquest, which began on July 29, 2009, has been fraught with controversy, with expert witnesses giving contradicting evidence on the circumstances of Teoh’s death.

Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas on January 5, 2011 had returned an open verdict into the death. He also ruled out suicide or homicide as the cause of death.

Video by R. Vijay Kumar, Citizen Journalist

*************************************************

Adakah kamu puas dengan tahap siasatan kematian Teoh Beng Hock?

Gobind Singh Deo telah mencabar Peguam Negara dan Polis DiRaja Malaysia agar mereka puas dengan tahap siasatan kematian Teoh Beng Hock, seorang pembantu politik parti DAP.

Gobind, yang juga seorang Ahli Parliamen DAP kawasan Puchong, adalah peguam yang mewakili keluarga mendiang Teoh Beng Hock.

*********************************************************

Video from Malaysiakini.tv:

Two arrested in Black Democracy 2.0 march

The ‘Black Democracy 2.0′ march organised by PKR Youth outside Parliament today to protest the suspension of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and three other parliamentarians, was halted by the police and two protestors were arrested.

The detained are former PKR Youth information chief Lee Khai Loon, who is also the Council Member of Majlis Perbandaran Selayang, and Padang Serai PKR division information chief G. Pravin Nagapan, who is also the son of local parliamentarian N Gobalakrishnan.

They were brought to Dang Wangi police station for questioning. The two were later released at 6.00pm.

They were among the group of 20 PKR Youth members and supporters, led by its chief Shamsul Iskandar and Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff, who had initially planned to march from Parliament building to the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) headquarters about 2km away.

The march was in protest of Parliament’s decision to deny Anwar Ibrahim his right of defence in the rights and privileges committee proceedings and the parliamentary motion that suspended his post for six months for claiming the government’s ’1Malaysia’ slogan was derived from ‘One Israel’ with the initiative of Apco.

Besides Anwar Ibrahim, three other opposition MPs including Azmin Ali (Gombak), R Sivarasa (Subang) and Karpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor) were suspended for six months for criticising the rights and privileges committee.

Around 50 police and light strike force (LSF) members stopped the march about half way to their destination, warning that it was an illegal assembly under the Police Act.

The PKR Youth members maintained their democratic right to march peacefully and continued on their journey, resulting in a minor scuffle with the police and in the arrest of the two.

Lee Khai Loon explained that there was no public transport available at the premise to go to Suhakam as the police had cordoned the area. Thus the group had to walk, and that is when the harassment and arrest took place.

Lee also complained of the use of excessive force while under detention in one of the police trucks.

“I was pushed to the ground and my leg has injury and it hurts,” said Lee.

For more photographs, see Photo Gallery.

More detailed news at Malaysiakini, click here.

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO: Lobbying for a torture-free Malaysia

The Selangor State Government celebrated the Merdeka Day at I-City in Shah Alam on the eve of that day.

The ‘Malaysians for Beng Hock’, a support group was also holding a silent protest in its campaign for a torture-free Malaysia.

Teoh Lee Lan, 30, the younger sister of the Late Teoh Beng Hock was leading the protest.

One of the coordinators of the group, Chong Kok Siong said the group will continue to rally the masses to pressure the Malaysian government over Beng Hock’s case and of the other tortured victims.

The group had joined the others at the I-City to sing the national anthem after the countdown.

Video by R. Vijay Kumar, Citizen Journalist

MALAYSIANS FOR BENG HOCK campaign.

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO: Malaysians for Beng Hock” campaign

The family of the late Teoh Beng Hock, who died a mysterious death at the Selangor’s MACC headquarter, calls on all Malaysians to continue support in their quest to seek truth and justice. They say that their quest is beyond the Teoh’s family and it extends to the future generations of Malaysians.

At the recent public forum “Injustice for 1 Year : What Say You Malaysians?” held on Monday August 16, 2010 evening at the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, the sister, Teoh Lee Lan said the number of people at events related to Beng Hock has been gradually decreasing since his funeral service last year.

She had said, “We are non-partisan. This is not a political issue, but it is about the country and the kind of system we have.”

A group of NGOs, civil societies and individuals came together and formed a movement to ensure justice is secured for the family and the greater Malaysians. They call themselves “Malaysians for Beng Hock”. It is a movement in support of Beng Hock’s family. It is a movement in search of justice. It is a movement against state-sponsored torture. It is a movement for all of us Malaysians who care.

Citizen Journalist R. Vijay Kumar met several of the Coordinators of “Malaysians for Beng Hock” campaign on Wednesday August 18, 2010 at the Bangunan Mahkamah Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah in Shah Alam.

The three coordinators, Chong Kok Siong, age 40, Ng Yap Hwa, age 32 and Lim Zhen Hui, age 22 shared some brief information on the campaign.

For further information of the campaign and future activities, kindly view the website, MalaysiansForBengHock

Fund Raising: The movement needs funds to run the “Malaysians for Beng Hock” campaign; organizing various events, print of banners, flyers, stickers, badges, T-shirts, VCD etc. They seek well wishers to heartily make contributions to their fund, a joint bank account:
Maybank current a/c no: 564146533656
Maybank joint a/c : Teoh Lee Lan or Liau Kok Fah

Teoh Lee Lan, Beng Hock’s sister, is the chairperson of this campaign, and Liau Kok Fah is the Chairperson of Civil Rights Committee of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

Teoh Beng Hock was the political secretary for Selangor state executive committee member Ean Yong Hian Wah. On July 15, 2009, Beng Hock was taken in for interrogation by MACC’s official on the case of an apparent misuse of fund by Ean Yong. However, Beng Hock was found dead the next day nine floors below the Selangor’s MACC headquarter at Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam. Beng Hock was getting married on that day.

Video by R. Vijay Kumar, Citizen Journalist

Abdul Razak Musa – Ho Mun Chong encounter after the Teoh Beng Hock inquest

Shah Alam: Bangunan Mahkamah Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecution head, Abdul Razak Musa left lawyers and the public gallery alternately baffled and frustrated as he cross-examined Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensics expert at the Teoh Beng Hock inquest on Wednesday August 18, 2010.

From the very start on asking if she knew the university that she had graduated from is not recognised in Malaysia, to which Dr Pornthip answered, “But it is in the top five in Asia.”, his barrage of provocative and many times silly questions were sought to discredit her.

The Thai pathologist stood her ground despite Razak’s incessant attacks on her expertise, observations and conclusions on the death of the DAP political aide in July 2009.

Once Dr Porntip even retorted, “I’m questioning whether you are a lawyer.” To this Abdul Razak replied, “Maybe I’m younger than you, but I’ve served as a lawyer for 24 years.”

The court’s amusement turned into frustration towards the end of Razak’s line of questioning.

Members of the public sighed loudly when he finally wrapped up – and one even bellowed “Thank you!”

Razak later left the court complex in Shah Alam in a huff, slamming shut his car door when questioned by reporters.

Mocking at Razak, a Beng Hock supporter, Daniel Chong, 53 sarcastically remarked, “Razak clarity and understanding of the English language after 24 years of experience is horrendous.” Chong, who was a former DAP Bukit Gasing Chairman, is one of the activists championing justice for Teoh Beng Hock.

As Razak’s driver moved the car forward, it ‘nudged’ another Beng Hock supporter twice, as the supporter tried to prevent the vehicle from leaving.

However, Ho Mun Chong – a DAP member who has attended every inquest hearing – was not injured.

A policeman was later seen bothering Mun Chong after the incident.

Last Sunday, August 1, 2010, what was intended to be a peaceful candlelight vigil to commemorate the Internal Security Act’s (ISA) 50th anniversary at the Dataran MBPJ became a ‘brutal’ crowd dispersal by Malaysian riot police.

That evening, many activists who had gathered at Dataran MBPJ, Padang Timur in Petaling Jaya, Selangor to mark their protest, in a peaceful manner, of this deemed draconian law had to take cover at the nearby Amcorp shopping mall from the police force.

The policemen were also seen rushing into the shopping mall to pull out people, thus breaking the peace even in the mall.

Those arrested were taken to the nearby Petaling Jaya district police headquarters.

Many of those arrested claimed to have been “shoved, beaten, slapped, dragged, choked and verbally abused” while being detained by the police. A total of 29 people were arrested in Petaling Jaya – eight women and 21 men, including the three people who were arrested outside the police headquarters when they came to meet those arrested at Dataran MBPJ and Amcorp.

It was only by 4.30am Monday, Aug 2, 2010 when the last of those arrested were released, one-by-one, under police bail. Those arrested were ordered to attend the PJ Magistrate court at 9.00am on August 16, 2010, and not report back to this district police headquarters.

In an attempt to add insult to injury, several traffic policemen from this district headquarters also summoned the vehicles of people who waited for those arrested. This work-of-summons was being done several times till after 3.30am. Those whose vehicles were summoned included several of the Members of Parliament, Selangor State Assemblypersons and MBPJ councilors.

Sivarasa Rasiah, who is Subang MP, together with Ronnie Liu, a Selangor State EXCO member & Pandamaran State Assemblyperson, both felt this further aggravations and provocations were unnecessary and hold ACP Arjunaidi Mohamed, the Petaling Jaya district police chief responsible for these intimidations.

“BE OUR GUEST” (Selamat Datang. ANDA ADALAH TETAMU KAMI). These words were explicitly displayed at the signboard at the district headquarters.

A sincere question to the Malaysian Police, “Are we really your guests”?

An MBPJ councilor, Chan Chee Kong undertook to verify the permissibility of the inclusion of details of a motor repair company on the signboard at the police headquarters which also administers a traffic police station.

Seramai 60 orang mahasiswa dari pelbagai institut pengajian tinggi awam berkumpul di sekitar Ibu Pejabat Polis Petaling Jaya untuk menaikkan sepanduk Anti ISA.

Kumpulan mahasiswa itu mahu kerajaan supaya memansuhkan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri bukannya meminda.

Sebelum itu, polis telah bertindak menyurai serta menghalang para aktivis daripada mengadakan upacara memasang lilin di lapan tempat di seluruh negara bagi membantah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) yang kini berusia 50 tahun.

Video oleh R. Vijay Kumar, Wartawan Masyarakat

The four UKM students – Muhammad Hilman Idham, Azlin Shafina Mohamad Adzha, Woon King Chai and Muhammad Ismail Aminuddin – on May 13 received their summonses to face a disciplinary hearing for contravening the UCCA.

The case resumed today after the students received an injunction on June 1, 2010 to delay the disciplinary action. Lawyers Malik Imthiaz Sarwar, Haris Ibrahim and Ashok Kandiah appeared for the infamous UKM 4. Meanwhile lawyer Shafie Abdullah appeared for UKM.

Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, the lawyer for the UKM students spoke to CJ R. Vijay Kumar after the case.

Video by R. Vijay Kumar, Citizen Journalist