Beng Hock inquest man made solicitor-general

The Malaysian Insight The Malaysian Insight Updated 5 years ago · Published on 9 Jul 2020 7:00AM · 7 Comments

Abdul Razak Musa was almost cited for contempt after he had made certain remarks about the late lawyer Karpal Singh’s disability. – Twitter pic, July 9, 2020.

ABDUL Razak Musa, the senior federal counsel who caused a stir at the inquest into the death of Teoh Beng Hock a decade ago, has been appointed solicitor-general with effect from July 14.

The letter of appointment dated July 8, which was sighted by The Malaysian Insight, was signed by Attorney-General Idrus Harun.

Razak will replace Solicitor-General Engku Nor Faizah Engku Atek, who is currently the No. 2 in the Attorney-General’s Chambers. The AGC website said Engku Nor turns 60 this month.

Razak was previously the chairman of the Prevention of Crime and Terrorism Board, under the Home Ministry.

He received flak when he acted as senior federal counsel for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at the inquest into the death of Teoh, an aide to a Selangor exco, who was found dead at the MACC Selangor headquarters at Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam the previous year.

Teoh, a witness in a probe into alleged misappropriation of Selangor funds, was questioned by the MACC at the 14th floor of the building on July 15, 2009, before the body was found on the fifth floor the next day.

During the inquest, Razak received flak when he at one point suggested that Teoh had strangled himself with a tie, refuting Thai pathologist Pornthip Rojanasunand who believed it was most likely a homicide.

Razak left lawyers and the public gallery alternately bemused and frustrated as he cross-examined Pornthip, a Thai forensics expert.

There were also some tense moments when Razak was almost cited for contempt after he had made certain remarks about the late lawyer Karpal Singh’s disability.

Razak reportedly said: “I can sit but you cannot stand” to Karpal, who was wheelchair-bound.

A war of words then ensued between Razak, Karpal and his son, Gobind Singh Deo, who was then holding a watching brief for Teoh’s family, leading to the latter two demanding Razak be cited for contempt.

Razak also later acted as a deputy public prosecutor in the murder trial of deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais at the Kuala Lumpur High Court in 2016. – July 9, 2020.

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Comments

  • Clearly Najib's man.

    Posted 5 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • Prone to abusing disagreeable witnesses and those physically challenged. Lacking in compassion and proper decorum, personalities like him are now appointed to head the backdoor administration.

    Posted 5 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • I find it very hard to believe that the AGC don't have better caliber people. If this is the best available, then God Bless and protect Malaysia

    Posted 5 years ago by Mike Mok · Reply

    • They dont want better calibre people, they want ineffective yes-men who wont question.

      Posted 5 years ago by Anne Louis · Reply

  • What a joke!

    Posted 5 years ago by Watch Dog · Reply

  • Another incompetent on the way up!

    Posted 5 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • .... one of the most ridiculous appointment to be Solicitor-Gen - the man who made a fool of himself in trying to show the court that a man can commit suicide by strangling himself or herself. Bloody joke.

    Posted 5 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply