POLICE are merely heeding the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ order to reinvestigate Teoh Beng Hock’s death for wrongful confinement, despite there being elements of homicide in the 2009 case.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mazlan Mansor told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today that the force cannot comment on why the probe is not being carried out under Section 304 of Penal Code for culpable homicide.

“I can’t comment on what the prosecutor’s side has decided. We are conducting our investigations based on what has been decided by them.”

Yesterday, Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy chairman Ng Geok Chee said police have reopened their probe into the death of the former politician’s aide under Section 432, which deals with wrongful confinement.

Pakatan Harapan, in its 14th general election manifesto, pledged to reopen investigations into Teoh’s death.

PH lawmaker Ramkarpal Singh, of DAP, yesterday said fresh investigations into Teoh’s death should focus on homicide instead.

He said Attorney-General Tommy Thomas must explain why the case is being investigated for wrongful confinement.

“It is utterly disappointing for the matter to be now investigated for the much lesser offence of wrongful confinement, when the Court of Appeal had clearly indicated in its judgment that there was evidence of homicide surrounding Teoh’s death.

“This warrants an explanation by the authorities as to how this could arise, especially in light of the Court of Appeal’s findings surrounding Teoh’s death.

“If the Court of Appeal had found evidence of homicide, how is it that the Attorney-General’s Chambers did not?”

The Bukit Gelugor MP said he will write to Thomas on behalf of Teoh’s family, seeking an explanation.

Teoh’s body was found on the rooftop of a building next to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office in Shah Alam, where he had been interrogated over graft allegations against a Selangor DAP assemblyman. – June 26, 2019.