TODAY marks the 12th anniversary of the death of Teoh Beng Hock. He died in a fall from the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam, in Shah Alam, Selangor, changing the lives of his family forever.

Although the quest for truth and justice for his mysterious death has been long and painful, his family are not giving up.

His sister, Lee Lan, told The Malaysian Insight the family have not been the same since Beng Hock’s death.

He was a journalist and a political aide to Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah.

Beng Hock’s body was found on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam on July 16, 2019. He was 30 years old.

“We are still angry and upset, especially during family reunions where we feel the loss of Beng Hock, the family is not complete.

“His loss is especially felt by his wife Soh Cher Wei and his son Teoh Er Jia. We keep imagining how it would feel if Beng Hock was still with us,” she said.

Lee Lan said the family are disappointed in the investigations into his death and the response of certain ministers.

“I vividly recall the sight of Beng Hock lying on the roof of the building with his bloody hands clasped together. The grief and heartbreak of that moment will stay forever.

“We will not forget that Beng Hock is waiting for us to get justice for his death. His wife and son and my parents are all waiting for the truth.”

She said Beng Hock was supposed to be only assisting Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers in their investigation into his boss Ean Yong for alleged corruption but her brother had somehow ended up dead.

“The government did not give us an explanation. The authorities delayed investigations and quickly covered up the truth.

“They also ignored the Court of Appeal’s decision on September 5, 2014, which directed the police to open an investigation into those responsible for Beng Hock’s death, including officials of the MACC.”

“They tried to make people forget about the case. But if we remain indifferent, there could be more Beng Hocks,” Lee Lan said.

Never forget

Lee Lan said it feels like public memory of her brother is fading with each passing year. But the Teoh family will never forget.

“As long as we remember what happened, even if it takes 20 or 30 years, we will wait for a democratic government with human rights values to investigate his death thoroughly and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

To facilitate their search for the truth, Teoh’s family set up the Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy to campaign for freedom and human rights and encourage the youth to participate in social movements.

Lee Lan urged the 33 MACC officers who were questioned over Beng Hock’s death to tell the truth.

“Some politicians have shown that they are willing to help the family get closure. Allegations of manslaughter and illegal imprisonment will be fully investigated to bring those responsible to justice.”

Beng Hock was brought to the Shah Alam MACC headquarters on July 15, 2009 as a witness to assist in investigation into allegations that Ean Yong had paid RM2,400 for flags for Merdeka Day celebrations but not taken delivery of the flags.

He was questioned for nine hours from 6pm to 5am. Later the same day at 1.30pm, he was found dead.  

The death caused public outrage. Pakatan Rakyat leader Anwar Ibrahim condemned the brutality of the Barisan Nasional government at protests organised by the now defunct party.

On January 5, 2011, the coroner’s court returned the verdict that the death was neither a suicide nor homicide. The family subsequently filed for a review in the Shah Alam High Court.

A royal commission of inquiry was set up to investigate Teoh’s death. The inquiry found Beng Hock’s death was due to suicide under duress caused by the harsh interrogation of three MACC officers.

Beng Hock’s family refused to accept the findings, insisting that he was murdered.

In 2014, the Court of Appeal set aside the coroner’s verdict, ruling that “a person or persons were responsible for Beng Hock’s death”.

Police reopened investigation into the case but failed to find evidence of foul play.

The new Pakatan Harapan government in 2018 agreed to look into the death but failed to deliver.

The trust has launched an online petition urging Home mMnister Hamzah Zainudin and Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani to release the findings of the investigation into Beng Hock’s death.

Timeline

* July 16, 2009
Beng Hock, 30, is found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam. He had been interrogated by the MACC for 9 hours prior to his death.

* July 17, 2009
It was to have been the day of his wedding to fiancee Soh Cher Wei. She is two months pregnant with his child.

* August 5, 2009
Inquest begins at the coroner’s court in Shah Alam.

* December 17, 2010
Inquest before coroner Azmil Muntapha ends.

* January 5, 2011
Coroner’s court returns open verdict that Teoh’s death was neither suicide nor homicide.

* January 26, 2011
A royal commission of inquiry is set up to look into Teoh’s death.

* July 21, 2011
After interviewing 70 witnesses, the RCI delivers a 124-page report stating Brng Hock was driven to commit suicide by the interrogation tactics of three MACC officers.

* August 24, 2011
The Teoh family file for judicial review on the RCI’s findings.

* February 2, 2012
Court of Appeal grants leave for judicial review.

* September 5, 2014
Court of Appeal sets aside the coroner’s findings, ruling that “a person or persons were responsible for Teoh’s death”.

* May 12, 2015
The government and MACC agree to pay Teoh’s family a RM600,000 settlement.

* November 5, 2020
Police reopen investigation into the death of Teoh’s death under section 342 of the penal code for wrongful confinement.