Sunday, August 30, 2009

明福託梦称惨死‧赵家吁知情者助討公道

(马六甲)赵明福於7月16日在雪州反贪污委员会总部离奇坠楼毙命一个多月来,家人一直都在等待他能託梦给任何一人,以“道出”死因,没想到前几天他终於“出现”在家人的梦中。明福的妹妹赵丽兰声称,哥哥託梦告诉家人,他是惨死的,並非自杀。

“我们知道,只要有证据,真相才会真正大白,明福才能討回公道。”

“我们再次恳求任何知情者,能够勇敢的站出来,將真相告知我们的律师哥宾星。”

她也说,家人梦见明福时,明福的样子就如平时一样,至於地点则在亚罗牙也的老家。

“相信明福会回来”

“我相信当真相大白时,明福一定会回来,交代他还未交代的事。”

赵丽兰今日(週日,8月30日)在释迦院,与沙登区国会议员张念群、莲花苑州议员李映霞、沙登行动党党员及明福生前的同事祭拜明福后,在明福的灵位前向记者这样指出。

明福的双亲赵亮辉、张秀花、哥哥明基、大姐丽君及外甥皆给明福上香。

淑慧克制情绪不流泪

明福的骤逝,至今仍教家人痛心欲绝,他的母亲、大姐及妹妹在现场多次落泪,尤其丽兰在向记者提及哥哥被反贪会官员污蔑一事时,更是哽咽落泪,令旁人感到难过。

明福的妻子苏淑慧也在场,但她由始至终都沉著应对,当明福的同事在灵位前唱《友谊永在》及《正义最终会伸张》时,明福的姐妹已哭成泪人,反倒是淑慧这时选择別过头去,凝神望向远方,並且不停的用手中的纸张在脸旁挥搧,似乎在努力克制情绪,不让眼泪溃堤。


“污蔑明福抽佣”
赵家促反贪官道歉


赵明福的妹妹赵丽兰指出,反贪会由始至终都指明福只不过是协助调查案件的证人,现在反贪会官员莫哈末安努亚依斯迈竟然把他说成是涉及抽佣的人,为何要这样污蔑、誹谤明福?

“污蔑一名已不能自辩的人,是恶毒,绝不能令人接受的!”

她说,家人对莫哈末安努亚於8月26日在验尸庭上供证时,指责明福涉及112令吉的抽佣行为,感到极度痛心及不满。

“欧阳捍华行政议员告诉我们,明福是绝对清白的,他说那112令吉其实是明福先前垫出去的一项活动开销,並且拥有文件及证据证明明福是清白的。”

赵丽兰披露,虽然验尸官裁决刪除上述供词,但一些网站媒体已报导莫哈末安努亚的这项指责,这已对明福的清白构成伤害。

“莫哈末安努亚必需拿出证据,否则他应公开道歉。”

谁会为112元典当人格?

沙登区国会议员张念群指出,验尸庭开审以来,不但未还明福一个清白,如今却有人在庭上对明福进行人格谋杀,指明福抽佣112令吉,这是不可原谅的行为。

她认为,发表这番话的反贪委员会官员莫哈末安努亚应该收回言论及道歉。

“明福作为欧扬捍华行政议员的助理,若要抽佣,何止112令吉?谁会为112令吉典当自己的人格?”

她说,之前反贪会只说请明福协助调查,现在却在庭上指他抽佣,等於未审先判,这对明福家人带来严重的伤害。

“验尸庭已开审多日,仍无法解答许多疑问。我们对验尸庭不满,也对皇委会缺乏信心。”

许多疑问未解

另外,张念群也提到,明福出事时,反贪委员会说在凌晨3时许就放了明福,手机也交回了,但为何明福的手机却在2天后,由反贪委员会交给警方?这一点,验尸庭一直没有交代。

她称,目前报章对明福事件的报导篇幅越来越少,但却出现越来越多罗生门,她与代表雪州政府的李映霞这一趟来,主要的是表达大家对家属的关心及支持。

“最重要的是,真相大白。在所有有良知的国民中,明福绝对是清白的人,是一名爱国青年,为了国家赔上的性命。”

雪议员先垫钱办活动

莲花苑州议员李映霞说,在民联接管雪州后,已经改善之前国阵未办活动先拨款的方式,民联掌政后,所有申请拨款者必需在活动结束后,连同活动照片及文件呈上,才能进行拨款程序,而通常是两三个月才会批准。因此先垫钱是常有的事。

她说,反贪会领取纳税人的钱,却没有公平调查,反倒对付民联,若反贪会真的要查拨款,就应去查巴生自由区事件。

“我们严厉谴责反贪委员会偏向人格谋杀,一些人为了爭权,不择手段,已不符民主精神。”

她指出,反贪委员会在明福案件上,骚扰了许多证人,並强迫这些证人指明福去世前,精神已出现问题,让大家觉得很不安。


Read more!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Officer: I did not hear people arguing

By WANI MUTHIAH and NURBAITI HAMDAN

SHAH ALAM: A Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer testified that he did not hear people arguing at his office toilet on July 16 – the day Teoh Beng Hock’s body was found.

Mohd Najeib Ahmad Walad, the state MACC assistant enforcement officer, told the inquest into Teoh’s death that he was at the office until 2.30am on that day and the atmosphere had been calm.

His testimony clearly contradicted that of his superior officer Mohd Anuar Ismail on Wednesday that Teoh and Kajang Municipal Council councillor Tan Boon Hwa had apparently argued.

Mohd Anuar, who is the investigating officer of the case, had testified that his colleague Bulkini Paharudin told him Teoh had an argument with Tan at the men’s room at 2am that day.

Teoh, who is the political aide to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was taken to the MACC office on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam here on July 15 to be questioned over alleged irregular disbursement of state funds. He was found dead on the fifth floor the next day.

Mohd Najeib told coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas that Teoh looked uncomfortable and worried when MACC officers paid Ean Yong’s office an impromptu visit on July 15.

Teoh, he said, also appeared troubled while waiting to be questioned at one of the MACC office’s lounge areas.

Questioned by Gobind Singh Deo, who is holding a watching brief for Teoh’s family, on how he knew that Teoh was worried, he said: “From his body language and facial expression. He was uncomfortable with the MACC officers.”

Gobind: So, if given a chance, he would have left?

Mohd Najeib: I don’t know.

On whether he had asked Teoh why he looked uncomfortable, Mohd Najeib replied he did not care and that it was probably due to his mood that day.

However, he said he would have attended to Teoh if he had complained about something to him.

Asked if force was usually used against those under questioning, he said: “As far as I know, no”.

Gobind: So, are you saying there may be but you don’t know?

Mohd Najeib: Yes.

Replying to counsel holding a watching brief for Ean Yong, Salim Bashir, he agreed that he and his colleagues had not obtained a search warrant before going to the executive councillor’s office.

Salim: Do you agree that it would make them uncomfortable, as they were not prepared to welcome the MACC?

Mohd Najeib: No.

He also said there were no verification documents to prove that several invoices printed by him had come from Teoh’s laptop.

There was no standing order or procedure when checking computers during investigations, he added.

Replying to Gobind earlier, Mohd Najeib admitted he did not remember the password to Teoh’s laptop.

Teoh, he said, had typed in the password himself and had only given him the password to access the CPU seized from his office.

Gobind: So, now if you want to go back to the laptop, you can’t?

Mohd Najeib: I can’t.

Read more!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

陈文华:爭执的指控是捏造的谎言

加影市议员陈文华郑重否认他在雪州反贪污委员会总部扣留问话期间,曾经和赵明福发生爭执或肢体衝突。

他今日(週四,8月27日)在行动党总部召开的新闻发佈会上说,此项指责是毫无根据且存有恶意,並对他和他的家人造成严重的伤害。

他说,他是自7月15日晚上约9时被带进雪州反贪会总部问话,一直到隔天中午1时35分才被释放。

他指出,当时他大约在晚上10点开始被盘问,一直到凌晨2点多才暂停。

“我当时要求喝水,盘问我的官员就带我到茶水间,喝完水后,我要求打一通电话回家报平安,手机上的时间是凌晨2点30分。”

他透露,这名官员从晚上10点至凌晨2点30分都一直在他身边,而他也不曾去过厕所,所以他认为这名官员指在凌晨2点,看到他与赵明福在厕所发生爭执,完全是一项捏造的谎言。

Read more!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Teoh Inquest: Officer asleep during interrogation

By WANI MUTHIAH and NURBAITI HAMDAN

SHAH ALAM: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer in charge of the case involving Teoh Beng Hock admitted that he would not know if the political aide was threatened when he was questioned by the officers.

Mohd Anuar Ismail said this was because he had been asleep most of the time when his subordinates interrogated Teoh in the early hours of July 16.

He said this at the inquest into Teoh’s death when he was cross-examined by counsel Gobind Singh Deo, who is holding a watching brief for Teoh’s family.

Gobind: During your snooze, you didn’t know what was going on?

Mohd Anuar: The officers briefed me.

Gobind: When you were sleeping, you didn’t know whether there were threats.

Mohd Anuar: I didn’t know.



Teoh, the political secretary to Selangor executive councilor Ean Yong Hian Wah had been summoned to the MACC office at the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam here on July 15 to be questioned over the alleged irregular disbursement of state allocations. He was found dead on the fifth floor the following day.

Mohd Anuar said he did not lodge a report after discovering that Teoh had died but rushed to Putrajaya to consult with his superiors.

Gobind: Your star witness is dead and you didn’t make a police report but got into your car and rushed to Putrajaya? Why did you not call the police?

Mohd Anuar: The situation was panicky as there was a dead person.

Mohd Anuar, 32, also said he had been instructed to go to Putrajaya for further instructions as well as to lodge a police report on July 17 by the Selangor MACC deputy director Hishamuddin Hashim.

Gobind, who wanted to know why Mohd Anuar had left Teoh’s remains “lying there” without even informing the latter’s family, lawyer or boss, suggested he may have done so as there was “something to hide or remove” from the scene.

“I do not agree,” Mohd Anuar replied.


Earlier in the day, Mohd Anuar testified that he did not probe Teoh on his condition during the questioning session with MACC officer Mohd Nadzri Ibrahim at 2am as there was no need to do so.

However, Mohd Anuar who admitted he had gone back to sleep after inquiring if everything was alright, said he noticed that Teoh appeared to be uncomfortable and withholding something when his statement was being recorded.

Mohd Anuar added that he had asked Teoh if everything was okay but Teoh had kept mum.

Asked why he had not tried to find out why Teoh had kept silent and appeared uncomfortable, Mohd Anuar said it had not occurred to him to so.

Gobind also said Teoh’s lawyer M. Manoharan had waited at the MACC office for an hour on July 15 but no one came out to speak to him.

To this, Mohd Anuar said he was not aware that Manoharan had come to the MACC office that day.

On why the questioning had to be carried out throughout the night, Mohd Anuar replied that there was urgency in conducting Teoh’s case given the wide media coverage it had received.

Gobind asked: “You were directed to bring them in and get a confession?”

Mohd Anuar admitted that he had been instructed to do so by Hishamuddin and MACC head of investigation unit Hairul Ilham Hamzah.

The inquest continues today before coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas.

Read more!

Memorial Vigil for Teoh Beng Hock (Klang, Selangor)

Memorial Vigil for Teoh Beng Hock
赵明福追悼会

Date: 28th August 2009 (Friday)
日期:2009年8月28日(星期五)

Time: 8.00 pm
时间:晚上8时

Venue: Bangunan Persatuan Hokkien, Klang, Selangor
地点:巴生福建会馆

Speakers/主讲者:
YB Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary Leader and MP for Ipoh Timur
民主行动党国会领袖兼怡保东区国会议员林吉祥

YB Tan Kok Wai, DAP Vice Chairman and MP for Cheras
民主行动党全国副主席兼蕉赖区国会议员陈国伟

YB Teng Chang Khim, Speaker of DUN Selangor and ADUN for Sungai Pinang
民联雪州议会议长兼双溪槟榔区州议员邓章钦

YB Ean Yong Hian Wah, Selangor Exco and ADUN for Seri Kembangan
民联雪州行政议员兼史里肯邦安区州议员欧阳捍华

Khalid Samad, PAS MP for Shah Alam
回教党沙亚南区国会议员卡立沙末

Representatives from PKR
公正党代表

MPs and ADUNs from Klang
巴生区各国州议员

Organised by/ 主办者:
DAP Klang Parliamentary Liaison Committee
民主行动党巴生国会选区联委会

Enquiries/询问: Lee Fu Haw 李富豪(017-6099369)

Read more!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Teoh Inquest: Letter names officer and BN leader

By WANI MUTHIAH

KLANG: The mysterious letter which derailed the Teoh Beng Hock inquest on Wednesday purportedly implicates a top-ranking Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer and a state Barisan Nasional leader in the mishap.

The letter, which was published in several news portals, was allegedly written by lower-ranking MACC officers, accusing the two men of having conspired to topple the Selangor government by conducting a witch-hunt of its leaders, which indirectly resulted in Teoh’s tragic death.

It also accused the MACC officer of having protected the politician when he was in power before the Pakatan Rakyat coalition took over Selangor.

According to the letter, the officer had received many kickbacks as payment for his service to the politician.

Counsel representing Teoh’s family, Gobind Singh Deo, tendered in the letter to the coroner after informing him that an individual had handed it to him on Tuesday.

One incriminating accusation in the letter is about the method the officer used as his interrogation technique – by holding the front portion of a person’s belt and lifting him several times before shaking him.

(Government forensic pathologist Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim had opined at the inquest earlier that it was possible that Teoh had been held up by the belt as it had a tear at the buckle region.)

It also said the officer left the office on the first session DNA samples were taken from MACC officers to facilitate investigations into Teoh’s death.

The letter alleged that during the second session, the officer gave his DNA in the privacy of his office instead of the conference room where all the officers, including the state director, had assembled to be swabbed.

“Why was his DNA sample given in secrecy? Was it his own sample that was given? We MACC officers are puzzled why none of the samples extracted matched that of the mysterious male samples (found on Teoh’s blazer and belt),” the letter purportedly asked.

It also recommended that the officer be swabbed again in the presence of people who can be trusted.

The letter alleged that the officer had ordered his subordinates to wipe the window, from where Teoh is believed to have plunged to his death.

The officer was also purportedly the last person to have seen Teoh alive, as he had not punched his card when leaving the office at 6.10am on July 16th.

Meanwhile, when contacted, the politician, who was overseas, said the allegations were baseless. “I have nothing to gain by toppling the Selangor government,” he added.

“I don’t think it’s the work of MACC officers. What are they going to get by making such wild allegations?” he asked.

The inquest into Teoh’s death was adjourned to Monday.

Read more!

Mysterious MACC letter: Police asked to investigate (Update)

By CHRISTINA TAN and STEVEN DANIEL

SHAH ALAM: Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas has instructed the police to investigate the contents of the mysterious letter that was presented at the Teoh Beng Hock inquest on Wednesday.

Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said that he could not elaborate but added that the police have began an investigation.

The results of the investigation would be sent to the court for the inquest, he said on Friday.

The letter accuses a top-ranking Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer and a state Barisan Nasional leader of having conspired to topple the Selangor government by conducting a witch-hunt of its leaders, which indirectly resulted in Teoh’s tragic death.

On July 15, Teoh was taken in for questioning by the MACC as a witness in its investigation into the alleged abuse of constituency funds by certain elected representatives in the state.

Teoh, 30, was the political secretary of state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah.

Teoh’s body was found the next day on the fifth floor of the Plaza Masalam building the next day. The MACC has its office on the 14th floor of the building.

The Cabinet agreed to the inquest into the death after a public outcry.

In KUALA LUMPUR earlier Friday, MACC deputy director Datuk Abu Kassim said the Commission would have to determine if the mysterious letter presented at the inquest on Wednesday is the same as the one which has been published on numerous portals and blogs.

He said the MACC, which has yet to get a copy of the letter presented at the inquest, has to see if it is one and the same as the version which has been published online.

“If they match, we will let the police and our internal complaints board investigate,” he said.

Read more!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Teoh Inquest : Mysterious letter appears

SHAH ALAM: A letter containing 'a handful of names' with details relevant to the inquest was received by Gobind Singh Deo.

Gobind, who is holding a watching brief for political aide Teoh Beng Hock's family, said someone handed him the letter after the hearing on Tuesday.

He said the five-page typed letter had 'a handful of names' and material facts and circumstances relevant to the inquest.

He, however, said the letter was dated Aug 5.

During Wednesday's proceedings, Gobind said he wanted the letter investigated and had informed Teoh's family accordingly.

He said the letter contained explicit details of significance to the inquest.

Tan Hock Chuan, the lawyer representing the Attorney-General's Chambers, said the prosecution has no objection for further investigation to be carried out.

"All of us are interested to know the truth. These are allegations that must be investigated by police. Let the police investigate to verify the truth or otherwise of the allegations."

It is learnt that the coroner and all interested parties viewed the letter earlier in the afternoon.

The inquest then adjourned to Monday afternoon.

Here is an account of what transpired in the court:

3.50pm: Outside the courtroom Gobind told reporters the letter was typed in "five to six pages." He says it was handed to him by someone who approached him outside the court yesterday. However, the letter was dated Aug 5.

"A handful of names are mentioned in the letter," he said.

3.45pm: The inquest adjourns to Monday afternoon.

3.25pm: Gobind says matters raised in the letter clearly relate to material facts and circumstances relevant to the inquest.

He says he is making an application to the court for the letter to be investigated and has informed Teoh's family accordingly.

Tan Hock Chuan, for the Attorney-General's Chambers, said the prosecution has no objection for further investigation to be carried out. "All of us are interested to know the truth. These are allegations that must be investigated by police. Let the police investigate to verify the truth or otherwise of the allegations."

It is learnt that the coroner and all interested parties viewed the letter earlier in the afternoon.

3.20pm: Gobind said a letter was handed to him after yesterday's proceedings. He said the letter contained explicit details which are of significance to the inquest.

3.15pm: Gobind Singh Deo says Teoh's family is in the court. He said there is a new development to the case.

Read more!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Teoh Inquest: Focus on facial injuries

By WANI MUTHIAH

SHAH ALAM: Teoh Beng Hock had facial injuries and it is possible that they were caused by beating, an inquest into his death was told.

Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim, the Klang Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) senior consultant pathologist, also said the political aide had injuries in his anus, adding it was possible that such an injury could have been caused when he was beaten with a blunt wooden object.

Replying to counsel representing the Selangor government Malik Imtiaz Sarwar on the facial injuries, he said it was possible it was due to a beating.

Malik Imtiaz had suggested to Dr Khairul Azman that if the facial injuries were caused by Teoh’s fall from the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam, it depended on how he landed onto the building’s fifth floor service corridor.

Teoh had severe multiple injuries which included a perforated anus, broken ribs, fractured ribs, limbs, and skull as well as various bruises and lacerations.

Probed by Malik Imtiaz over the anal injury, Dr Khairul Azman said the injury could have occurred as Teoh’s sacrum bone (located at the base of the spine) was fractured in the fall.

(Caption: Ready for court: Dr Khairul Azman arriving at the witness room at the Shah Alam court for Teoh Beng Hock’s inquest Monday.)

Malik Imtiaz: Is it possible for the anal injuries to have occurred before the fall and made worse by the fall?

Dr Khairul Azman: Possible.

Malik Imtiaz: Is it possible that this can be seen as a penetration wound?

Dr Khairul Azman, who admitted he had not carried out specific examinations to determine if the rectum was transacted or lacerated, again said the injury could be due to a fragmented sacrum bone.

He added that the trousers would have had a hole instead of a tear if it was indeed a penetration wound.

Malik Imtiaz: What if when this was done, the trousers were taken off?

Dr Khairul Azman: There would be bleeding.

Malik Imtiaz: There was bleeding?

Dr Khairul Azman: Yes.

Earlier, Dr Khairul Azman, replying to counsel Gobind Singh Deo, who is holding a watching brief for Teoh’s family, said such an injury could also be caused when beaten with a blunt wooden object.

Gobind: If he was hit with a blunt and flat object, is it a possibility that he did not have his pants on at the time?

Dr Khairul Azman: Yes, possible.

To whether the injuries could have occurred if one fell from a high altitude and landed flat, Dr Khairul Azman said the injury would have occurred when the posterior took a very hard knock upon landing.

Gobind: In that case the theory that injury was on the right leg does not makes sense.

(Last week, Dr Khairul Azman said Teoh could have landed on his feet with the right leg taking the bulk of the impact.)

To Malik Imtiaz’s question on whether he could say whether there were injuries before the fall, he said: “If there’s evidence such as blood or any other clear signs, only then can I say there is a possibility that it is a homicide.”

Malik Imtiaz also asked if the scratches on Teohs hands resembled fingernail marks.

Dr Khairul Azman said that there was a possibility.

Malik Imtiaz: Is it possible that when he was being held out of the window to scare him, and as he fell, someone grabbed him by the hand and the watch came off, because we never found the watch. Is there a possibility?

Read more!

Doc: I did not speak to MACC officers

SHAH ALAM: A senior government pathologist testified that he interviewed Teoh Beng Hock’s family but admitted that he did not speak to any Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officers to help formulate his opinion.

Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim told the inquest into the political aide’s death that he had interviewed the relatives to have a better understanding of what may have happened on the day he died.

He said he spoke to Teoh’s elder brother, younger sister and fiance to know when was the last time they saw him alive.

Replying to counsel Gobind Singh Deo, who is keeping a watching brief for Teoh’s family, Dr Khairul Azman said he had wanted to know Teoh’s state of mind and if he had suicidal tendencies.

“Did you ask the family if he had psychological problems, medical problems, drinking, alcohol and smoking problems?” asked Gobind. “Yes, he had none,” Dr Khairul Azman said.

He said Teoh’s brother told him that his brother was an open person who liked to discuss things.

When Dr Khairul Azman insinuated that Teoh might have been embarrassed for making a mistake, Gobind said: “Be careful. You don’t know from the background.

“There’s no reason for him to commit suicide. What about the other aspect of him being murdered? Isn’t it equally important to question the MACC officers as well?”

Dr Khairul Azman replied that it was the duty of the police to speak with the MACC officers.

When Gobind said he was not in a position to rule out the possibility of a homicide as he did not probe the MACC officers, Dr Khairul Azman said: “I do not have proof to support that a homicide had taken place.”

Read more!

He may have been alive momentarily

SHAH ALAM: Teoh Beng Hock may have been alive momentarily when he landed on the fifth floor service corridor of Plaza Masalam after falling from the 14th floor.

This was revealed when counsel representing the Bar Council Rajpal Singh questioned forensic pathologist Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim about Teoh’s palms, which were clenched.

“Maybe he was in pain. It is possible he was alive and felt intense pain and clenched his fists before he died,” Dr Khairul Azman told the inquest into Teoh’s death.

Rajpal asked Dr Khairul Azman if there was a possibility that Teoh was semi-conscious when he fell as he had not bitten or bruised his tongue due to impact of the fall.

Earlier, counsel representing the Selangor government Malik Imtiaz Sarwar showed Dr Khairul Azman a picture of Teoh’s left hand and asked whether it indicated cadaveric spasm.

(Cadaveric spasm is a type of stiffening of the muscles that occurs at the moment of death and is usually associated with violent deaths.)

Dr Khairul Azman said there was a possibility that it was, adding that Teoh may have also tried to grab on to something when falling.

Malik Imtiaz: Are you suggesting that he was conscious when he fell?

Dr Khairul Azman: Yes, there are signs.

Malik Imtiaz: Based on the fracture report, there doesn’t seem to be any injury to the wrists. Is there a possibility that there were no reaction?

Dr Khairul Azman: Possibly.

Questioned by counsel Gobind Singh Deo, Dr Khairul Azman said Teoh’s remains were found “a good distance away” from the window as evidence indicated that he had jumped off the building.

“We have to consider several things. If there were a struggle, there would have been signs. If pushed, he would have plunged straight down and not at the distance his body was found.”

Read more!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Pathologist under fire for DNA contamination theory

By Debra Chong

SHAH ALAM, Aug 17 — The government pathologist who last week suggested Teoh Beng Hock committed suicide came under fire from lawyers again today over his insistence that crucial DNA material to the inquest was contaminated on the autopsy table.

Dr Khairul Aznam Ibrahim, who had carried out the autopsy on the DAP political aide the day after he was found dead, had earlier testified that the unknown DNA profiles of at least two men found on Teoh's coat and belt were highly likely the result of “contamination” of the autopsy table at the Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR) in Klang near here.

The lawyer for the Selangor government, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, seemed to find the senior medical forensic expert's theory incredulous, especially after the latter told the coroner's court today that he had was not even in the room when Teoh's clothes were removed.

He quizzed Dr Khairul if the hospital attendants who did it wore gloves.

Dr Khairul said they did.

Puzzled, Malik asked the pathologist to explain how the contamination could then have taken place.

“During removal, the plastic was taken out. During that process, it might have happened,” Dr Khairul replied, adding that the attendants could have placed the clothes on a contaminated table while photographing one by one the items removed from Teoh's body.

The lawyer did not buy the pathologist's theory and kept pressing him for certainty, referring him to a photograph of the belt, which showed it coiled and standing upright on its edges without the flat part, where swabs were later taken, touching the surface of the table.

Malik: You're not sure there was contamination?

Dr Khairul: I'm sure there was contamination.

Malik: Based on what? You're saying the hospital in Klang contaminated the exhibits? You were not involved in the removal of the clothing. So would you agree that you're speculating?

Dr Khairul: It could have happened that way.

Exasperated, the usually mild-mannered Malik blew up for the second time today.

“You're speculating! Only tell us what you know,” the lawyer cried.

“I'm wondering why you are taking steps to undermine the facts,” he asked.

In a tight voice, Malik asked the pathologist again if he knew, for a fact — here he paused, stressing the word — that the autopsy table was contaminated.

“I don't know,” Dr Khairul answered in a low voice.

At the onset of the inquest, the coroner was told by government DNA expert Dr Seah Lay Hong that she had found samples of foreign DNA on the back of Teoh's coat and on his belt, which belonged to at least two men, seeming to raise the public's suspicions of foul play.

She had run tests on 157 individuals, including 81 anti-graft officers believed to be from the investigation team quizzing Teoh over alleged misuse of state money, and failed to find a match to the DNA, which remains a mystery to today.

Read more!

提100种明福死亡可能性‧凯鲁供词模稜两可

第10证人法医凯鲁供词模稜两可,上週五(8月14日)才说赵明福可能跳楼自杀,今日(週一,8月17日)忽然转口指赵明福有可能被人拋下楼。

週一验尸庭续审,凯鲁在庭上供证时,对“赵明福之死”提出100种可能性,包括明福可能跳楼、被推下楼,引来家属、雪州政府及律师公会三造代表律师的不满。

他一时说赵明福有可能在清醒、不清醒,甚至是半清醒的时候被拋下楼,出於本能反应,以致他死后双手紧紧握住。

过后他转口说:“也可能他掉落地面还没死亡,由於感到十分痛,他才会双手紧紧握住。”

当律师公会代表律师南士巴星问到,赵明福右腹的磨损痕跡有可能是手指甲造成的,可能有人拉扯他的腰带,企图拋他下楼。

他也认同这个可能性,过后又说可能是裤子拉链所擦伤,在律师的反驳下,接著他说:“任何可能性都有的。”

转口指伤口或坠楼前存在

法医凯鲁在较早前供证时指赵明福身体没有挣扎伤痕,他评断所有伤口是坠楼所致。但是,於週一却向雪州政府代表律师马力承认,赵明福身体上的伤口可能在坠楼前已存在。

凯鲁此言一出,令到外表斯文的马力也忍不住怒斥他说:“不懂就说不懂,你不能自己去揣测,你知道自己的供词有多重要吗?”

问答:

马力:你曾说尸体没有自卫及挣扎痕,5时30分在反贪会茶水间有人看见他,死者左手腕出现伤痕,有可能是指甲抓伤的吗?

凯鲁:有可能。

马力:有可能是有人拉扯他的左手的手錶时所造成的吗?

凯鲁:你说有可能的话,就有可能。

马力:假设死者在沉睡中,有人抓住他的手將他拋下楼,导致手錶脱落,令手錶遗失?

凯鲁:有可能。

马力:你说死者腰带出现超过两个人的DNA,可能是警员或鑑证组处理尸体时,不小心造成污染,这个可能性不大,因为他们都会戴上手套。

凯鲁:我推测在打开遮盖尸体塑胶袋、拍摄尸体、搬运尸体可能受到污染。

马力:你没看到事实,只是推测?难道没有官员通知你尸体受到污染?

凯鲁:就是这样发生的。

马力: “你根本不知道原因,对吗?”

凯鲁低下头,细声回答:“是的”

没验结肠是否有残余食物

南巴士星:死者有可能被人抓住腰带拋出窗外吗?

凯鲁:如果是这样,腰带將被扯断,但是腰带完好在死者身上。

南巴士星:不管腰带有没扯断,死者被人抓住腰带才会出现抓痕?

凯鲁:有可能。

南巴士星:死者的手没打开,牙齿没有咬紧,可能是半昏迷吗?

凯鲁:有可能,也可能他忍住痛楚,我们不会知道的。

南巴士星:你是说赵明福著地后,依然活著,而且很痛苦,才会双手紧握住?

凯鲁:可能。

南巴士星:赵明福坠楼前,可能是不清醒或半清醒的,才被他人推下来?

凯鲁:他可能是不清醒的,但是根据我的经验,他也可能是清醒的,如果他被两个人拉扯及推下楼,衣服会有痕跡。

南巴士星:你有检验过赵明福的结肠是否有残余食物,以確定他多久没进食?

凯鲁:没有,即使有检验也无法验出,通常只能找到辣椒种子。

Read more!

面对各造律师假设‧法医未完全否定他杀

(雪兰莪‧沙亚南)虽然为赵明福进行解剖的法医凯鲁供证时已推断死者是自杀身亡,不过,他今日(週一,8月17日)在验尸庭面对各造代表律师提出的他杀假设时,却没有完全否定有关可能性。

当律师询及死者有否可能在失去意识下坠楼、身上的部份伤痕是否在坠楼前已造成、手上的伤痕是否是被指甲抓伤、是否有人企图把死者推向窗边恐嚇死者而造成意外,以及死者是否曾与人挣扎等假设性问题时,凯鲁一律回答:“有可能。”

雪州政府代表律师马力英迪亚为证明死者坠楼前已受伤,包括死者的肛门处受伤是在坠楼前已造成,而向证人假设死者在坠楼时臀部是没有直接著地,而是胸部直接撞击地面,凯鲁的回答还是一句:“有可能。”

“如果你的问题是问有没有可能性,我只能说有可能。”

哥宾星不满供词反復

此外,赵明福家属代表律师哥宾星对於凯鲁反復不一的供词深表不满,並直言无法尊敬他的判断。

他说,凯鲁上週五供证时指出,死者是自己爬出窗外,坐在窗槛上跳下楼,但週一又说死者是直接跃下楼,显然证人对於自己的假设有不同的立场。

“你说不可能有人强拉死者的裤带,导致死者裤子破裂及裤带断裂,因为这样的话裤带的末端会掉落,但你不排除有人强拉死者的裤腰,导致死者的裤带断裂。

“你同意有可能有人在死者坠楼前强拉死者的裤腰,但又说如果有发生推撞情况,死者应该是垂直坠下楼,而不是臥尸在离大厦较远的地方;不过,你之前说过死者可能在坠楼的过程中碰撞到其他东西导致身体弹到较远的地方,那你岂不是推翻自己的推论?”

哥宾星说,凯鲁每次都对有不同的立场,自相矛盾。

法医推断明福凌晨5时半死亡

法医凯鲁阿兹曼推断,赵明福的死亡时间,可能早至7月16日早上5时30分。

不过,他指出,死者较保守的死亡时间,应该是早上6时30分之后,因为在6时左右,还有人看到死者活动。

他表示,人死后遗体將在2至3小时后开始僵硬,在6至8小时后,就將完全僵硬。

“我在7月17日中午12时,为死者解剖,也发现他的肾臟开始腐烂,因此我推断,赵明福的死亡时间为7月16日早上5时30分。”

另一方面,他表示,在死者的胃里,他只发现褐色的液体,没有其他食物,他相信死者在死前,至少有4小时没有进食。

他指出,这也可以证明,赵明福在死前挨饿。

Read more!

Teoh Inquest Day 9: 'Facial injuries may be due to beating'

02:00pm: Inquest adjourns to Tuesday morning after intense questioning of the various injuries noted in the post mortem.

12:49pm: Malik Imtiaz put forward a hypothesis; that Teoh was surrounded by individuals - a form of scare tactic - before he fell. When he fell someone grabbed his hand and snapped his wristwatch as the watch is yet to be found.

Malik: Is there a possibility that the scratches on Teoh's wrist could have been caused by someone who held the wrist with the watch?

Khairul: Yes, there is a possibility

12:25pm: Dr Khairul says there is a possibility that the injuries on Teoh's face could have been caused by beating.

11:47am: To a question by Malik, Dr Khairul says that Teoh was conscious when he fell, based on spasm signs in his left hand. This indicates he had tried to grab something when he fell.

11.33am: Court resumes. Khairul takes stand again. Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, representing Selangor government is questioning him.

10:47am: Coroner's court takes a break.

10:10am: Dr Khairul complains to Coroner that Gobind is "playing with words", after persistent questioning by Gobind. Gobind retorts that he asked straight questions five times but did not get straight answers.

10:00am: Gobind says that as Dr Khairul had not interviewed MACC officers, he was not privy to evidence that excluded the possibility of homicide. But Dr Khairul insists that there was no evidence of homicide.

09:50am: Gobind asks Dr Khairul why he did not question MACC officers. Dr Khairul responded that it was not his job and he relied on information from the police.

09:40am: Dr Khairul says he questioned three of Teoh's family members - brother, younger sister and fiance - to determine if Teoh had any psychological, medical, drug or smoking problem. The family members had told him that Teoh did not have any of those problems.

09:31am: Dr Khairul agrees with Gobind's suggestion that a psychological background check on Teoh was important to determine if the cause of death was suicide.

09:15am: 10th witness Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim, senior consultant from Forensic Department of Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang, takes the stand again and is examined by Gobind Singh Deo.

09:13am: Coroner’s court convenes for ninth day of inquest.

SHAH ALAM: The inquest into the death of Teoh Beng Hock enters its ninth day.

Teoh, 30, who was political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on July 16 on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam, after giving a statement in an investigation into alleged abuse of state government funds.

The Coroner is Azmil Mustapha Abas and Tan Hock Chuan is the lawyer appointed by the Government to assist the Coroner.

Gobind Singh Deo is holding a watching brief for Teoh’s family while Malik Imtiaz Sarwar is representing the Selangor government.

Read more!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Tea ceremony formally welcomes Soh into Teoh’s family

Story and picture by CHEN PELF YEEN

ALOR GAJAH: Family members of Teoh Beng Hock and his 28-year-old fiancee Soh Cher Wei partook in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony to formally recognise her as his wife.

The solemn ceremony, which began at 11am, at Teoh’s home in Taman Sri Kelemak, Alor Gajah, yesterday, saw both elation and grief from the two families.

Soh, who is currently in the first trimester of her pregnancy, was seen quietly sobbing as she offered tea to Teoh’s parents seated before her.

She then served tea to other senior members of Teoh’s family at the small and private ceremony attended only by close relatives.

Earlier, as part of the ceremony, Soh had also offered prayers to Teoh’s ancestors.


Teoh’s siblings later presented Soh with a gold ring and bracelet, which his younger sister Lee Lan, 29, helped to put on.

When met later, Soh, who had recently cut her hair short, said she had not dreamt of Teoh or his spirit returning to visit her since his death.

“No, I have not dreamt of him. I suppose he has not returned to visit me as he might be feeling guilty for leaving me,” she said, adding that she wished he would return to tell her the truth behind his death.

“I decided to cut my hair short to begin a new life,” she said, adding that she had since moved back to her family in Batu Pahat, Johor, and was now teaching in a Chinese primary school in Ayer Hitam.

Soh said both Teoh and her had picked Oct 3, which is also the date of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival for their wedding, before his death on July 16.

Former Kota Melaka MP Kerk Kim Hock, who is related to Teoh’s family, clarified that the ceremony was not the traditional Chinese afterworld wedding that Soh had earlier expressed her wish for.

“This is just a simple and meaningful ceremony to mark the recognition and acceptance of Soh as the daughter-in-law of the Teoh family,” he said, adding that both families had also agreed for their relationship to be recognised through the ceremony.

Teoh, who was the political secretary to Selangor exco member Ean Yong Hian Wah, died on July 16 after falling from the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, where the state Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office was located.

He died hours after being interviewed by MACC officers as a witness in an investigation into the disbursement of state funds.

Read more!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

苏淑慧以“赵家媳妇”身份祭祖敬茶

(马六甲)已故赵明福妻子苏淑慧今日(週六,8月15日)以“赵家媳妇”身份祭祖,並敬茶给公婆,意味著她与腹中孩子身份受到確认,正式成为赵家一份子。

虽然这是一场婚事,但却因为新郎赵明福已不在,气氛悲喜交集,难掩心中难过的出席者,不禁在旁偷偷拭泪。

脂粉未施的苏淑慧,週六早上身穿黑色连身裙及白色小外套,神態平静地在赵妈妈张秀花指导下,完成祭拜祖先、天公、佛祖菩萨、土地公及灶君仪式。

祭拜仪式以福建永春籍贯风俗进行,所供奉的两类素荤食品包括菜肴、包点、发糕及各种具有“永春色彩”的传统喜饼。

祭拜仪式过后,苏淑慧先后敬茶给家翁赵亮辉及家婆张秀花、明福大舅张顺德、大姨张秀凤、三舅张清炎及四舅张清火,再接受幼辈敬茶。

在敬茶期间,独自一人进行所有仪式的苏淑慧,似乎再也难掩心中悲伤,频频拭泪,同时试图控制自己情绪,以儘快恢復平静,令旁人为之心酸。

这场仪式是在週六早上10时许於马六甲亚罗牙也赵明福老家举行,赵苏两家眾多亲戚出席观礼,除了赵明福二姐丽婷身在新加坡无法出席外,哥哥明基、大姐丽君和妹妹丽兰、苏淑慧父母苏炳泉和郑鈺叶、2名妹妹、2名弟弟、2名外甥及1名姑姑等,皆有出席这场仪式。

同时,赵家姐妹联合赠送首饰给淑慧,代表欢迎弟媳及嫂嫂入门的一份心意。

Read more!

The bride wore black

By Debra Chong

ALOR GAJAH, Aug 15 – The cheeks of the young children were stained with chocolate as they munched on Pocky chocolate-coated sticks while weaving in and out of the many legs that crowded the tiny living room in Teoh Beng Hock's family home here late this morning. Their eyes rounded in wonder.

A table in front of the family altar was laden with cakes and other traditional delicacies, including several kinds of sticky fried sweets peculiar to the Hokkien community during weddings only.

But nobody moved to help themselves to the food. They were waiting.

Soh Cher Wei arrived with her parents and siblings at her late fiance's home close to 11am. Today marked the day she would be formally inducted into the Teoh family, even if her intended no longer stood by her side.

The primary school teacher got engaged to the political secretary to first-term DAP Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah while he was a reporter with a Chinese daily, after a two-year courtship.

Cher Wei, who recently transferred back to her family home in Batu Pahat, was met at the door by Beng Hock's mother, Teng Shuw Hor, 56, and handed a bundle of lit joss sticks, smelling faintly of sandalwood.

Both made their way barefooted to the porch where a small, roofed shrine stood in a corner. Hands clasping the joss sticks, they bowed their heads in respect of the sky god before planting a few into a pot inside.

They returned to the main altar where Cher Wei continued her obeisance to Beng Hock's ancestors and family deities even as a slow Buddhist song played on softly in the background.

The all-important tea ceremony that followed next was highly-charged.

Cher Wei, dressed in a thin, knitted white cardigan over a knee-length black dress, knelt down alone in front of Beng Hock's parents and offered them a cup of tea each.

They accepted with both hands, drained the bitter brew, and completed the Chinese custom welcoming their younger son's wife into the family by handing her the traditional red packet.

The tears that glittered as they slid down her thin, pale cheeks were the only adornment on her face as Cher Wei greeted her weeping new in-laws, especially when 29-year-old Teoh Lee Lan, Beng Hock's youngest sister, slipped a bright gold band onto the ring finger on her right hand, marking her new status.


The 28-year-old would have exchanged rings with Beng Hock himself on July 16 instead of through a proxy had things turned out differently.

As matters stand, Cher Wei who is in her first trimester, is still waiting for word from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on whether her unborn child will be allowed to bear the Teoh family name on the birth certificate.

In Malaysia, a newborn's father has to be physically present and produce the marriage certificate before his name can be recorded on the birth certificate. In the absence of one, the space for the father's name is left blank.

But with today's ceremony over, Beng Hock's sweetheart now holds the right to have her name engraved on his gravestone at the Nirvana Memorial Park in Semenyih as his wife in accordance to Chinese custom, said Kerk Kim Hock, a distant uncle related by marriage to the deceased.

Kerk, who was formerly DAP's secretary-general, was acting as spokesman for the still-grieving family.

Beng Hock and Cher Wei had originally planned to tie the knot on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, a very romantic date according to the Chinese calendar as it marks Mid-Autumn Festival Day, which falls on October 3 this year.

The ceremony was brought forward to today, coincidentally the 15th day of the eight month in the Western calendar, to accommodate cultural sensitivities.

The Chinese believe that the soul of a deceased person remains in the human plane for seven weeks before departing for the next world.

They also believe the soul will take this chance to send a last message to his beloved and his family through their dreams.

Tomorrow marks the fourth week exactly since Beng Hock's funeral. Yet no one in the family has dreamt of Beng Hock.

“We want to dream of him. But we are too sad,” said Lee Lan, bright-eyed with unshed tears.

Read more!

Gobind tears into suicide theory

SHAH ALAM: A lawyer challenged a suggestion by a senior forensic pathologist that Teoh Beng Hock may have committed suicide.

Gobind Singh Deo, who is holding a watching brief for the political aide’s family, suggested that Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim was not able to factually support his contention on the possible cause of Teoh’s death.

Gobind, who stood after government-appointed counsel Tan Hock Chuan had completed questioning Dr Khairul Azman, asked the forensic pathologist if he had measured Teoh’s feet.

When he said he did not as this was not needed in the case, Gobind asked: “So, you couldn’t tell if his shoes were too loose for him as you didn’t measure his feet. In this particular case the shoe was found far away from the body. How far was it?

(Teohs right shoe was off his feet when his remains were found.)

“I didn’t measure,” Dr Khairul Azman, who is a consultant pathologist with Klang Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, said.

Gobind: It’s good to measure isn’t it? You cannot tell us how the shoe got there. You are in no position to tell us!

Dr Khairul Azman: It could have come off when he fell.

Gobind then said that logically, if the shoe was tight, this would not have happened.

When he asked if there was a possibility that Teoh was thrown out first and then the shoe, Dr Khairul Azman replied: “Yes, there is a possibility.”

Gobind: In that case, it is indicative of a homicide. Did you address that possibility?

Dr Khairul Azman: Yes, there is a possibility.

Gobind: Did you test the shoe for fingerprints? Dr Khairul Azman: No

Gobind: Is it significant?

Dr Khairul Azman: Yes

Gobind: Why didn’t you do it?

Dr Khairul Azman: I expected the police to do it.

Gobind: But you didn’t get them to do it because it would have indicated a homicide. Were you covering it up?

Dr Khairul Azman: No, I am not covering up.

Gobind then asked Dr Khairul Azman how he reckoned Teoh had come out of the window and the pathologist stepped out of the witness stand and demonstrated how he thought Teoh had jumped.

(While doing so, he demonstrated how he thought Teoh would have stood on the bottom ledge and gripped its top ledge.)

When Gobind asked Dr Khairul Azman if there would have been shoe prints or hand prints on the window frame if Teoh had jumped off in that manner, the pathologist agreed, adding that there was a possibility the footprints were not noticed.

“You said in your theory that he stood there and jumped. You went there, there were no footprints,” Gobing pointed out.

He suggested that Dr Khairul Azman had given theories that he could not support with facts.

“In this case your theory is demolished. It was not suicide, sir. Your theories come to naught. You are wrong!” said Gobind.

Dr Khairul Azman said he did not agree as one of the reasons there was no footprints was because Teoh had walked on the carpeted floor which had no dust.

Gobind: But you didn’t check.

Dr Khairul Azman: No.

Read more!

Pathologist: Teoh may have jumped

By WANI MUTHIAH

SHAH ALAM: Teoh Beng Hock may have committed suicide by jumping out of a 14th floor window of the Plaza Masalam here, a forensic pathologist told the inquest into his death.

Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim, the Klang Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) senior consultant pathologist, said there were signs indicating Teoh may have deliberately jumped out of the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commissions (MACC) office last month.

He was replying to questions posed by government-appointed counsel Tan Hock Chuan on whether Teoh’s death was a homicide, accident or suicide.

Tan: In your opinion based on the post-mortem results, visits to the scene of the incident on July 16 and 22, toxicology and DNA results; is it likely the death of the deceased was a suicide?

Dr Khairul Azman: In my opinion there are signs which indicate this.

Firstly there were no clear signs of a struggle, no bloodstains or things strewn around on the floor, he said.

“A pen (an MACC pen) was also intact in his pocket and there were no MACC officers’ DNA detected in the DNA tests (carried out on his blazer and belt). His injuries did not show any struggle and were consistent with a fall from a high place,” he said.


Dr Khairul Azman also said the death could not have been accidental as “it is highly unlikely for someone with a conscious state of mind to slip and fall while standing by the window”.

“This is because the area is not slippery and is carpeted. However, if going on a probability, we can still think about it because it could happen if the deceased had tried to open the window as wide as possible while feeling sleepy,” said Dr Khairul Azman.

However, he noted that the argument that Teoh had accidentally fallen or slipped and plunged out of the window could be challenged due to the height of the window shoulder, which was about waist high.

“In the event he had fallen, there is a great possibility the deceased would have landed head first or body first,” he said. Forensic investigations indicated Teoh had landed on his feet.

Teoh, who was the political secretary to Selangor executive council member Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead at 1.30pm on July 16, at Plaza Masalam’s fifth floor service corridor.

Dr Khairul Azman also ruled out the possibility that Teoh may have suffocated or been unconscious as toxicology tests indicated he had not been under the influence of common drugs or alcohol.

DNA tests carried out on the bloodstains found on his clothes also revealed that it was his own blood, he said.

On whether Teoh could have been dragged prior to his death, Dr Khairul Azman said there was no clear signs to indicate this.

On the DNA of two unknown males found on Teoh’s belt and blazer that did not match any of the 157 people sampled, Dr Khairul Azman said it could have come from the HTAR mortuary.

“I believe it must have come from contamination when the deceased’s clothes were removed at the mortuary,” he added.

The inquest before coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas continues on Monday.

Read more!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Teoh inquest Day 8: Pathologist says Teoh may have committed suicide

Coroner's Inquest will resume Monday morning

SHAH ALAM: There is a possibility that political aide Teoh Beng Hock committed suicide by jumping off a high place, an inquest into his death was told Friday.

Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim, 51, senior medical consultant at the Forensics Department, Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang, said his finding was based on the absence of any signs of a struggle near the window where Teoh was believed to have fallen from the 14th floor office of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at Plaza Masalam here on July 16.

"There was no blood stain, smashed glass or any items scattered near the window and an MACC pen, which was in Teoh's pocket, was still there.

"The DNA test also found no DNA traces from the MACC officers, and the injuries (on Teoh's body) did not show any signs of a struggle and were consistent with a fall, " he said when questioned by government-appointed lawyer Tan Hock Chuan who is assisting in the inquest.

Teoh, 30, who was political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on July 16 on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam, after giving a statement in an investigation into alleged abuse of state government funds.

Questioned by Tan on the possibility of Teoh being suffocated, Dr Khairul said there were no signs that Teoh had suffocated.

He also ruled out the possibility that Teoh's death was accidental as it was hard to believe that someone in a conscious state would slip while standing near the window because the place was not slippery and was carpeted.

"However, there was a possibility that it could have happened when Teoh tried to open the window wide and he was sleepy.

"But this could be questioned because if Teoh had slipped, with the window at his waist level, and fallen, he would have landed in a different position, probably, the head or body first. This is just a possibility, " he added.

Dr Khairul said his findings were based on the post-mortem and toxicology reports, as well as checks at the scene of the incident on July 16 and 22. He said that based on the toxicology report, Teoh was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident.

He also told the court that there were several possibilities for a person to fall from a high place.

He could fall accidentally, jump off on his own or be thrown or pushed, he added. - Bernama

The earlier acccount of what happened at the inquest is below.

11.55am: Coroner's Court adjourns, to resume Monday. Dr Khairul will appear again on Monday morning and Dr Prashant will appear Monday afternoon.

11.40am: Gobind argued that Khairul's suicide theory was nought as there were no hand prints or foot prints on the window frame.

11.19am: Gobind Singh Deo cross examines Dr Khairul

11.00am: Court resumes

10.30am: Court takes a short break

10.19am: Tan Hock Chuan: In your opinion, based on post-mortem report, injuries on the deceased, your site visits on July 16 and 22, toxicology reports and DNA reports, is it likely Teoh's death was caused by suicide? Dr Khairul: In my opinion it would likely be that the deceased jumped off. There are signs (of suicide).

10.05am: Dr Khairul says that, in his opinion, there was no conclusive evidence of homicide. He says there were no signs of struggle.

09.25am: Dr Khairul says that he saw no obvious signs that Teoh was dragged.

09.00am: Coroner's Court resumes. Tenth witness Klang Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) senior consultant pathologist Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim is recalled to take the stand.

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‘He may have been dragged’

By WANI MUTHIAH and NURBAITI HAMDAN

SHAH ALAM: Political aide Teoh Beng Hock may have been dragged prior to his death as there were deep graze marks on the sole of his right shoe.

C/Insp Mazli Jusoh, 31, from the Selangor police forensics department told the inquest into Teoh’s death yesterday that this was a possibility.

Insp Mazli said Teoh’s left shoe, however, was not damaged.

He was answering questions posed by counsel Malik Imtiaz Sarwar who is holding a watching brief for the Selangor government.

Malik Imtiaz: “Is there a possibility that the deceased had been dragged?”

Insp Mazli: “No, usually when someone is dragged from behind it will not show on the sole because the feet would be flat down, as he would be using the heel of his shoes to resist.”

Malik Imtiaz: “If he was dragged sideways, is there a possibility (for the graze marks to have occurred)?”

Insp Mazli: “Yes, possibly.”


Teoh, who was the political secretary to Selangor executive council member Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead at 1.30pm on July 16, at Plaza Masalam’s fifth floor service corridor.

He had gone to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office on the 14th floor of the building on July 15, to help with investigations into the disbursement of state funds.

Insp Mazli also said, when he inspected the deceased, he found dirt stains on the back portion of his (Teoh’s) torn pants.

Earlier, he told the inquest that he had taken two swabs each from the MACC’s office window, from which Teoh is believed to have plunged to his death, as well as a sofa on which Teoh had allegedly spent the night.

Insp Mazli also said when he went to the MACC office on July 16, the relevant areas had been secured.

Malik Imtiaz: “So before it was secured, anyone could have gone in? Did you see any footprints near the window?”

Insp Mazli: “I did not see any footprints. If someone had stood there, there would have been a mark due to the dust.”

He added that there were also no visible fingerprints on the window as well, which was dirty and dusty.

Sreekant Pillai, who is also counsel for the Selangor government, asked Insp Mazli if he had looked for fingerprints on Teoh’s body.

“No, there were no instructions given,” said Insp Mazli.

The inquest’s 14th witness, DSP Shahrul Othman Mansor from the Cheras Royal Malaysian Police forensic laboratory, who took the stand after Insp Mazli, testified that he had detected a faint nine-inch (22.9cm) shoe print on the window shoulder, but he did not find out whose print it was.

DSP Shahrul also said he had not checked the window for any fingerprints or tell-tale signs because he had been informed by Investigating Officer ASP Ahmad Nazri Zainal that the Selangor police forensics team had already inspected the place.

However, he added that he noticed that the window’s latch had been recently broken.

The inquest continues today with Klang Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) senior consultant pathologist Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim testifying in the morning.


Read more!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Cop tells of blank notebook

By Rita Jong; Jennifer Gomez

SHAH ALAM: There were no notes or records in the notebook of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officer who called Teoh Beng Hock in for questioning.

Teoh was summoned to the MACC office on July 15 and was released after questioning in the early hours of July 16.

The coroner's court, however, was told yesterday that there were no notes of the questioning session in the notebook of the MACC officer assigned to this case.

The 11th witness in the inquest, Inspector Mohd Zulaimi Mohd Zubir, told the inquest he was ordered to seize the "official daily notebook" of the MACC investigating officer who was leading the graft probe.

(Teoh had been called to the MACC as a witness in the probe against several Selangor Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen.)

Zulaimi said he seized the notebook belonging to the investigating officer, Mohd Anuar Ismail, on July 18, two days after Teoh was found dead.

"I made 10 copies of the notebook and had them certified by the MACC deputy director," Zulaimi said to a question by counsel Tan Hock Chuan, who is assisting the Attorney-General's Chambers in the inquest.

Tan: Were there any notes in Anuar's official daily notebook 2009?

Zulaimi: There was only one (entry) on July 8, (on) Wednesday, which states "house/Putrajaya/office Toll RM".

Tan: Were there any notes on July 15 and 16?

Zulaimi: No.

Tan: So, from July 1 to 18, there was only one entry, which was made on July 8?

Zulaimi: Yes.

Tan: Besides Anuar's notebook, did you seize the notebook of any other officer?

Zulaimi: No. I only confiscated Anuar's, but if I am not mistaken, Inspector Shahzrin and Chief Inspector Zakiol did.

Zulaimi, who is also an IO at the Shah Alam district police station, seized the Plaza Masalam closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) hard disk on July 18 to find out the time Teoh had entered the building.

"Teoh came in through the lobby on the 4th floor at 18:08:55 and did not leave the premises," he said.

"I was also instructed by the Shah Alam police chief ACP Noor Azam Jamaludin to seize CCTV recordings between midnight and 7am on July 16 to monitor the movements of MACC officers and other individuals."


He said 47 still pictures were captured from the CCTV images of people walking in and out of the building.

Zulaimi, however, said he did not recognise any of them, but was told by the security guards at Plaza Masalam that they were MACC officers.

The CCTV recordings were later handed to the Forensics Department in Bukit Aman for analysis.

On the day Teoh died, Zulaimi was instructed to go and secure the scene.

He said while he was there, an MACC officer told him that the victim was a witness in a graft probe.

Later when questioned by counsel Gobind Singh Deo, Zulaimi admitted that he did not take the details of the MACC officer who had told him Teoh was a witness.

Gobind: How many MACC officers did you see when you were at the scene?

Zulaimi: About four to five. They were looking from a window of an office premises about five to six feet away from the body.

Gobind: Did you ask them how their witness could have fallen?

Zulaimi: No.

Gobind: Why didn't you ask the identity of the officer who had told you that Teoh was their witness?

Zulaimi: I was not instructed to.

Gobind: Isn't it important to do so?

Zulaimi: Yes. I forgot to do so.

Gobind: Did it ever cross your mind that Teoh could have been pushed or flung out of the building?

Zulaimi: Yes, but after investigations, we learnt that Teoh could have either fallen or was pushed from a window on the 14th floor.

Another witness, Inspector Mohd Zaidi Abu Hassan, of the police's forensic lab, said he was tasked with extracting details from Teoh's Sony Ericson P1i handphone.

Proceedings yesterday ended with Zaidi's testimony.

Police officers of the Crime Scene Investigations Unit in Selangor and Bukit Aman, Chief Inspector Mazli Jusoh and Deputy Superintendent of Police Shaharul Othman are expected to testify today.

Read more!

第13证人:右鞋底部左侧磨损‧赵明福或遭人拖拽

(雪兰莪‧沙亚南)赵明福验尸案今日(週四,8月13日)发现,死者赵明福右鞋鞋底的磨损痕跡,不排除是遭人从侧边拖拽造成。

负责赵明福坠楼现场搜证的第13名证人雪州警察总部鉴证组警官莫哈末玛兹里首席警长,週四早上在雪州代表律师马力英迪雅盘问下作出上述供证。

他形容,赵明福右鞋鞋底前侧鞋层剥落,而底部左前侧出现白色的摩擦痕跡,而靠近鞋根处出现破损。

在马力英迪雅询问鞋底出现磨损痕跡是否因死者遭人拖拽导致,莫哈末玛兹里起初坚决否定此可能性。

“如果死者是遭人从后拖,因鞋跟阻碍,摩擦的痕跡应该留在鞋根上,不会在鞋底。”

但在马力英迪雅进一步追问,如果从侧边拖拉是否会造成鞋底磨损下,后者才点头表示,不排除有此可能性。

至於白色的摩擦痕跡,莫哈末玛兹里说,本身无法確定该痕跡从何处沾染,而本身也没针对此展开任何检验。

无法寻获右鞋剥落表层

至於右鞋前端剥落的表层,莫哈末玛兹里承认这是此案重要线索之一,但是在他多处搜索下,依然无法寻获。

“虽然如此,案发当天,我在案发现场玛莎兰大厦多的14楼窗户处、臥尸地点5楼、楼梯处、停车场、花丛等地方搜索,但依然找不到剥落表层。”

表面也遍寻不获

同样遍寻不著也包括死者佩戴的手表,现场只寻获表带与表扣,表面遍寻不获。

另外,针对鞋底磨损露出的纤维,莫哈末玛兹里指出,当天在案发现场检验时,他判定露出的纤维为鞋子布料之一。

但是,他也承认並没有针对有关纤维进行进一步鉴定,因此如要確认纤维的出处,必须送交鞋子原厂鉴定。


14楼窗户满是污垢灰尘
无法採集指纹与鞋印

莫哈末玛兹里也透露,怀疑为赵明福坠楼地点的玛莎兰大厦14楼窗户,並没有採集到任何指纹样本与鞋印。

他指出,案发当日当他抵达玛莎兰大厦后,查案官阿末纳兹里向他作出匯报,並透露怀疑死者从14楼一扇敞开的窗户处坠落,因此他率先前往14楼检验该窗户。

他形容该窗户距离地面3呎3寸,而宽度则有2呎10寸,窗户下的墻壁,壁面上以肉眼观察並没有出现任何痕跡。

“不过,我发现该窗户凹陷、窗的开关把手断裂,同时內部镜面铺满污垢,而窗框也满是灰尘。”

他补充,当时他在窗户上採集指纹,但因窗户都是污垢与灰尘,因此无法採集到指纹。

现场没找到任何脚印

虽然他在接受马力英迪雅盘问时指该14楼窗户可打开45度,足以让常人跨出,但是基於窗户窗框上的灰尘满布,如果有任何人踩踏都会留下脚印,而他在现场却没有找到任何脚印。

他补充,在14楼窗户周遭区域只在两处进行样本採集,分別从窗户及被指死者赵明福曾躺臥的沙发上,各採取了4个样本。

不知有反贪会办事处
没前往15楼搜证

虽然莫哈末玛兹里负责现场搜证,但在马力英迪雅盘问下却发现,有部份相关搜证与检验並没有完成。

他在供证时承认,基於本身不知道反贪污委员会在15楼也有办事处,因此没有前往15楼搜证。

没採集死者衣服腰带指纹

同时也没採集在死者衣服、腰带上的指纹,连死者右鞋底的白色摩擦痕跡也没加以检验与追查。

而在总检察署代表律师陈福泉询问下,莫哈末玛兹里解释,本身的职务只是负责现场搜证,並不包括检验尸体。

但在陈福泉追问检验尸体是谁的职务时,他却说:“我不清楚……”

赵明福裤子后方撕裂
14楼窗户找不到长裤纤维

针对赵明福裤子后方的撕裂痕跡,莫哈末玛兹里强调,他並没有在14楼窗户附近找到任何相关长裤纤维。

他在律师公会旁听律师黄天成询问下表示,以肉眼判断,玛莎兰大厦外墻平滑,並没有任何突出或尖锐的地方,可勾破死者裤子。

另一方面,基於死者臥尸在玛莎兰大厦5楼,而死者裤子后方撕裂处出现污跡,他推测与臥尸处凹陷地面出现的污跡有所关联,所以也採取该地面样本。

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第14证人:赵明福坠楼后3天‧窗户下方发现一鞋印

(雪兰莪‧沙亚南)赵明福坠楼事件发生3天后,回到现场搜查的沙鲁奥曼副警监表示,他在雪州反贪污委员会的窗户下方,发现一道不明显的鞋印,但没有进一步追查这是谁的鞋印。

沙鲁奥曼是验尸庭传召的第14证人,他今日(週四,8月13日)在总检察署代表律师陈福泉的引导下供证说,这个鞋印的长度为9吋,並表示他的队员没有进一步追查是谁的鞋印。

不过,第13证人莫哈末玛兹里却透露,怀疑为赵明福坠楼地点的玛莎兰大厦14楼窗户,並没有採集到任何指纹样本与脚印。

沙鲁奥曼说:“我在7月19日去到位於玛莎兰大厦14楼的雪州反贪委会办公室搜证,我们搜查窗户附近区域时,没有使用器具。

“因为据我瞭解,雪州鑑证组早前已在这个区域搜证,而且在案发3天后,证据可能已受污染(pencemaran)。”

他指出,他们在窗户附近区域搜证时,没发现损坏、刮花及挣扎留下的痕跡,也没找到任何证物。

他表示,窗户区域在案发后已被封锁,但非整个办公室。

窗开关把手已断裂

他表示,当时窗户本身没有上锁,但窗子开关把手已断裂,他过后指示队员將剩下的把手扣拆下作为证物。

他说,他们没有在窗户採集指纹,因为雪州鑑证组已採集过有关样本。

他指出,窗户的长度为132公分,宽度为82公分,他们回到怀疑是赵明福坠楼的窗户搜证,是为了找到可以作为调查用途的关键证物。


搜证盘问地点没任何发现
没在会议室採集指纹


沙鲁奥曼指出,他们於今年7月19日到雪州反贪委会搜证时,只是在反贪委会的办公室搜证,没有去到赵明福臥尸的5楼露台。

他表示,要进出反贪委会办公室,需要使用通行卡,但他们没有列印出7月15及16日的出入记录。

他表示,在5时30分许,他们在反贪委会官员莫哈末安努尔及查案官阿末纳兹里助理警监的陪同下,首先在反贪委会的办公室大门搜证。

“我们过后到主要会议室,安努尔告知,这是盘问赵明福的地点,在这里,我们使用多重波长灯搜证,以找出血跡或毛髮,但没有任何发现……我们没有在会议室採集指纹。

“我们也到另一间房间搜查,安努尔证实,这是为死者录口供的房间,里头有一张桌子及2张面对面的椅子,同样是没有发现。”

他指出,他们前往搜查会议室时,门是打开的,没有封锁,但不確定反贪委会官员是否有使用会议室。

他指出,他们也被告知赵明福在一张沙发上用餐,但没有告知用餐时间。

另外,他指出,他们也有检查赵明福的休旅车,车內乾净及整齐,惟他们没有任何发现。

Read more!

Teoh inquest (Day 7): Possibility that Teoh was dragged (Update)

12.28pm: Court adjourns to 8.30am tomorrow after all witnesses present took the stand.

Gobind Singh Deo, who is holding a watching brief for Teoh’s family, is expected to cross examine the witnesses tomorrow as he was not present in court today. Malik Imtiaz stood in for Gobind.

11.30am: Court resumes and calls Deputy Supt Shahrul Othman from the Royal Malaysian Police forensics laboratory to take the stand.

10.50am: Court in recess.

10.40am: Insp Mazli says that based on scratch marks on the sole of Teoh’s shoes, there is a possibility that he (Teoh) was dragged.

10.30am: To a question by Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, who is representing the Selangor Government, Insp Mazli says there were no footsteps found on the 14th floor window sill.

“I have checked. The place is dusty. If someone had set foot there, there must be shoe prints,” says Insp Mazli.

10am: Insp Mazli says he took two swabs each from the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office’s 14th floor window and the sofa which Teoh had allegedly slept on.

9am: Inquest starts with two crime scene investigators from the Selangor police to testify.

First to take the stand is Chief Inspector Mazli Jusoh.

SHAH ALAM: The inquest into the death of Teoh Beng Hock before Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas enters Day 7 Thursday.

Wednesday the coroner’s court heard of video footage from closed-circuit television at Plaza Masalam showing Teoh entering the building through the fourth floor lobby at 6.09pm on July 15.

The recording, however, did not show him leaving the building after that or the following morning, according to 11th witness police officer Insp Mohd Zulaimi Zubir from the Shah Alam police headquarters’ crime department.

Insp Mohd Zulaimi said he obtained recordings for between midnight on July 15 and 7am the following morning, and had seized the CCTV’s hard disk on July 17 to be sent to the Bukit Aman forensics department the following day.

The department was able to retrieve 47 images.

The inquest ended with 12th witness Mohd Zaidi Abu Hassan from the Polis DiRaja Malaysia forensics laboratory.

It is not known yet if both Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim, senior consultant at Forensics Department Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah and UMMC forensic pathologist Dr Prashant Samberkar are well enough to testify as they called in sick Wednesday.

Teoh, 30, political secretary to Selangor Exco Ean Yong Hian Wah was found dead on July 16 on level 5 of Plaza Masalam after giving a statement as a witness into alleged abuse of state government allocation at the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office.

Read more!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

电眼画面显示午夜至7时‧“赵明福有进无出”

(雪兰莪‧沙亚南)调查赵明福死因的验尸庭今日(週三,8月12日)被告知,玛莎兰大厦的闭路电视画面显示,在7月16日午夜12时至7时之间,赵明福没被拍到离开玛莎兰大厦。

沙亚南警区总部刑事调查组警官莫哈末朱莱米警长指出,画面也显示,死者於7月15日傍晚6时08分被带到这间大厦。

无法认出官员是否进出

“至於在7月16日午夜12时至7时之间,是否有雪州反贪污委员会的官员进出玛莎兰大厦,我就无法认出,因为我不认识这些官员,但这座大厦保安人员过后还是协助我们认人。”

莫哈末朱莱米是验尸庭的第11证人。他週三在总检察署代表律师陈福泉的引导下供证说,虽然画面没有拍到赵明福的正面,但他还是可以凭死者的黑身外套认出死者出现在后方的位置。

他表示,在玛莎兰大厦维修部人员及闭路电视供应商的协助下,警方一共列印出47张7月16日午夜12时至7时之间的闭路电视画面。

他说,在案发后,他受到沙亚南警区总部主任诺阿占助理总监的指示,回到玛莎兰大厦扣押(rampas)闭路电视的硬盘(hard disk)。

鑑证组系统无法播放

他指出,此举的目的是为了確认赵明福何时抵达玛莎兰大厦,以及在7月16日午夜12时至7时之间,是否有任何雪州反贪委会官员或其他人曾进出大厦。

他表示,他过后將硬盘交给武吉阿曼警察总部鑑证组的阿米尔鲁丁警长作分析,但却被告知鑑证组的系统无法播放这些硬盘所储存的画面。

他指出,阿米尔鲁丁的电脑可以播放画面,但却法列印这些画面,原因是尚需安装特別的软体,过后他们在玛莎兰大厦维修部人员及闭路电视供应商的协助下完成列印工作。

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证人:值勤记录簿7月1至18仅一笔记录‧调查官没记录盘问明福事

(雪兰莪‧沙亚南)莫哈末朱莱米警长指出,调查雪州行政议员欧阳捍华选区拨款弊案的一名反贪委会调查官莫哈末安努尔,其每日值勤记录簿於2009年7月1至18日期间,只有一笔记录。

马新社指出,这名调查官也负责盘问赵明福,换言之,他没有將盘问赵明福的事项记录在案。

证人莫哈末朱莱米表示,这笔记录的日期为7月8日,写著:“屋子/布城/办公室及收费站令吉。”

“我们在7月18日下午3时回到雪州反贪委会办公室,我们取走了官员的每日值勤记录簿,其中10本是副本,但这些副本皆有雪州反贪委会副主任的证明,我取走的是莫哈末安努尔的原版记录簿。”

总检察署代表律师陈福泉表示,莫哈末安努尔是调查欧阳捍华的一名反贪委会调查官。

他指出,根据莫哈末安努尔的每日值勤记录簿,在7月15及16日皆没有任何记录,在7月1至18日期间,也只有一笔记录。

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第11证人:没索取个人资料‧“忘记向认出死者官员录供”

(雪兰莪‧沙亚南)第11证人莫哈末朱莱米警长今日(週三,8月12日)表示,当一名反贪污委员会官员向他指出死者赵明福是反贪委会的证人时,他却“忘记”向有关官员录取口供。

他说,他没有向这名官员索取个人资料,迄今也无法认出这名官员是谁。

他表示,他之所以没有询问这名官员,是因为他只是被指示维持案发现场,不让外人进入。

声称只根据指示做事

他週三在验尸庭上接受赵明福家属代表律师哥宾星盘问时说,这名官员是通过窗口的镜子看到死者的脸部,因而认出死者就是他们的证人赵明福。

哥宾星表示,既然有人认出死者,对警方而言有关人士就是重要人物,但为何他却没有向这名官员录取口供或询问其个人身份时,莫哈末朱莱米表示,他只是根据指示做事。

哥宾星显然不满意这个答案,並进一步追问,莫哈末朱莱米竟表示,他忘了要这么做。

他在哥宾星的引导下供证时说,之后他也没有问其他官员那名指出赵明福就是证人的官员身份。

此外,莫哈末朱莱米表示,在见到死者后,一开始他確实有想过死者是否被人推下楼或拋下楼,不过,在查案官指出死者可能是从14楼其中一个窗口跌下来之后,他就没有再多想。


首度使用投影器及萤幕

为了方便证人供证,验尸庭准备了投影器及荧幕,以播放玛莎兰大厦的闭路电视画面,这是调查赵明福死因的验尸庭,首度使用投影器及荧幕。

第11证人莫哈末朱莱米警长是首个通过影像在验尸庭供证的证人,他在协助调查这宗案件时,是负责收集闭路电视的画面。

投影器及荧幕接下来还需派上用场,因为验尸庭接下来还要传召鑑证组人员,以进一步鑑定在闭路电视画面中出现的人物。

证人:电眼或拍到物体坠落
未向私人办公室索影带

莫哈末朱莱米表示,虽然案发现场玛莎兰大厦內5至14楼的私人办公室內的闭路电视(CCTV)有可能拍到窗外是否有物体坠落,但他並没有向有关人员索取闭路电视录影带查看。

他指出,他们只是查看了玛莎兰大厦入口及停车场的闭路电视录影带。

“我主要是看午夜12时至早上7时有谁进出大厦,因为死者最后一次被人看见是在早上6时,我们要看在那之后是否有反贪委会的官员进入大厦,並知道死者已经死亡。”

他说,所有在午夜12时至早上7时进出大厦的人员都被拍下照片作为记录。

此外,他在律师公会代表拉斯巴星引导供证时说,他並没有接触过尸体。

他说,他只是吩咐一名警员把遮盖尸体的黑色塑胶袋打开,而刚好这时候反贪委会的官员到场,並认出死者。

他表示,他並不是在反贪委会官员的吩咐下打开塑胶袋,一切只是时机刚好。

他指出,根据闭路电视录影带显示,赵明福进入反贪委会时,並没有携带任何文件或包包,只是手拿一台手机。

第12证人鉴证组分析员:
明福手机时间日期无误

第12证人警察科学鉴证组的商业罪案电脑调查助理分析员莫哈末再迪指出,他调查赵明福的手机时,该手机的时间和日期都准確不误。

拉斯巴星盘问证人时说,手机的时间没有快10分钟或慢10分钟,而哥宾星则没有针对手机课题发问。

莫哈末再迪指出,他於7月21日接受查案官纳兹理助理警监的指示,调查一个索尼爱立信的手机,该手机有1张晶片、记忆卡和电磁。

盘问10分钟內结束

赵明福的手机一度被视为重要的线索,惟针对第12证人的盘问,却在短短的10分钟內结束。

总检查署代表阿峇沙菲里较后透露,他们日后不会在庭上公佈赵明福手机的短讯內容,因为大部份属於私人短讯。

週四(8月13日)验尸庭將传召来自雪州科学鉴证组玛兹里首席警长和武吉阿曼科学鉴证组沙鲁副警监,以及两名法医。

哥宾星:有重要课题可挑起

另外,赵明福家属代表律师哥宾星在离开法庭时披露,听了证人的供证后,確实有重要的课题可以被挑起,惟现阶段不便透露。

他说,双方已针对闭路电视的画面盘问证人;他希望,週四两名法医可以出庭供证。

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警长:多设在停车场及入口处‧命案现场无闭路电视

(雪兰莪‧沙亚南)验尸庭第11证人莫哈末朱莱米警长今日(週三,8月12日)指出,位於玛莎兰大厦的5楼露台的命案现场,並没有装置闭路电视。

他在总检察署代表律师陈福泉的引导下供证说:“这间大厦的闭路电视多数设在停车场、4楼大厅和进入购物中心的入口处。”

他指出,他也被告知,闭路电视仅在有人或物体移动时,才会录下影像。

他说,他在7月16日下午2时02分接投报指,发现一名相信已死亡的华裔男子伏在玛莎兰大厦5楼,因此,他和另外两名警员一同前往现场。

他说,他抵达现场时发现,有4名警员在场,而尸体则用相信是被撕开的垃圾袋覆盖,並用数块砖头压著。

“当我掀开塑料袋看见尸体时,相信死者是一名华裔男子,伏向右边,嘴巴和鼻子上有快干的血液,相信死亡已久。”

他指出,数名相信事反贪污委员会的官员指出,该尸体是他们的一名证人,当时他並不知道这些官员的名字。

他说,死者身穿深色外套、白裤、蓝色衬衫及白色裤子,其中一只鞋已脱落,惟不確定是哪一边的鞋子。

莫哈末朱莱米说,他向上司匯报,並接获指示在通知鉴证人员和维持秩序,不让闲杂人进入。


向反贪委会索资料
死者无犯罪记录

莫哈末朱莱米说,在7月16日下午3时10分,他到位在14楼的雪州反贪委会办公室索取死者的详情,当时他取得赵明福的身份证和名字,以调查其背景,惟死者没有任何犯罪记录。

他说,他也在下午4时与这间大厦维修人员有盖停车场的办公室看闭路电视画面。

他表示,他在晚上7时40回到臥尸的5楼露台,协助搬运尸体,尸体是以运货电梯(cargo lift)运下楼。

他指出,尸体於晚上9时被顺利运离玛莎兰大厦。

他表示,当尸体被警方的四轮驱动车运送至巴生中央医院时,他和查案官则开警车跟隨在后,至晚上10时30分,他们才完成任务。

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Inquest (Day 5): Death due to fall, no injuries of struggle or self-defense

3pm: The inquest adjourns to Wednesday.

1.03pm: Court breaks off for lunch.

12.43pm: Dr Khairul: Based on the bad smell of the body, Teoh could have died less than 36 hrs before the post mortem. Post mortem was done at about noon on July 17.

Replying to Tan Hock Guan, the government-appointed lawyer assisting the inquest, Dr Khairul said the post mortem showed no obvious injuries of struggle.

There were no obvious injuries of self defense that could be seen on Teoh except for the injuries due to the impact of the fall, he said.

12.25pm: Dr Khairul: Cause of death due to multiple injuries as a result of fall from a high place. Teoh landed on his feet and slanted to the right based on broken ribs.

Reporters and members of the public stand up to see Dr Khairul demonstrating the position Teoh could have landed on the ground.

11.33am: Court resumes with Dr Khairul's report. Teoh's body had several lacerations and fractures.

10.40am: Court in recess.

10.05am: Coroner Azmil asks Dr Khairul whether he can read autopsy report in English as requested by interested parties so that no details are left out. Dr Khairul had carried out a second autopsy on Teoh.

Reading his report, Dr Khairul said Teoh sustained multiple injuries mostly to the right side of his body. A bone fragment was found in a sock worn by Teoh on his right foot.

9.30am: Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim, 51, senior consultant at Forensics Department Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, called to the stand.

SHAH ALAM: The inquest into the death of Teoh Beng Hock resumes Tuesday.

Monday’s hearing was cut short to allow pathologists and forensics experts to test two stains on the stairway between level 14 and 15 of Plaza Masalam.

Gobind Singh Deo, who is holding a watching brief for Teoh's family told reporters Monday, that the stains were not blood.

Results of the tests on the stains are expected to be made known in court Tuesday before Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas.

Teoh, 30, political secretary to Selangor Exco Ean Yong Hian Wah was found dead on July 16 on level 5 of Plaza Masalam after giving a statement as a witness into alleged abuse of state government allocation at the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office.

In other developments, Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, Thailand, whose expertise had been requested by the state administration, would not be at the inquest.

She would be represented by her associates Dr Triyarith Temahivong, Chief of Clinical Forensic Medicine at the institute, and Police Lft. Col. Somchai Chailermsooksant, forensic scientist and Chief of the institute’s Crime Scene Unit.

Last week, DNA scientist Dr Seah Lay Hong told the court that it was possible that force was exerted on Teoh just before he died, suggesting that his death could be “not accidental”.

She said it was a hypothesis that force was applied at the tear region of the belt worn by Teoh in order for the rupture to occur.

Dr Seah, of the Chemistry Department, said it was “one of the many possibilities” that Teoh may have been held back by the belt for the tear to have occurred.

Dr Seah also said that swabs from Teoh’s damaged belt had the DNA of two other unknown males apart from his own. One of the unknown males was tagged as Male 1.

The DNA profiles of 157 individuals were compared with that of the two unknown males but none of them matched, she said.

Dr Seah also said that DNA profiles from swabs taken from the back outer side of a blazer consisted of a mix of male DNA types matching that of Teoh and Male 1.

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Pathologist: Teoh' s death caused by fall

By WANI MUTHIAH and NURBAITI HAMDAN

SHAH ALAM: Teoh Beng Hock died of multiple injuries caused by a fall from a high place and the post-mortem showed no signs of defensive injuries or a struggle, an inquest into his death was told.

Senior consultant pathologist Dr Khairul Azman, 51, said the political aide had 22 fractures, abrasions and bruises when the post-mortem was conducted on him on July 17.

However, according to Dr Khairul Azman, of the Klang Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, none of these injuries indicated that Teoh had sustained them either in a struggle or by defending himself in an attack.

“The injuries detected on Teoh were consistent with impact due to a fall from a high place. Death was also due to multiple injuries caused by fall from a high place,” said the pathologist, who conducted the post-mortem together with Universiti Malaya Medical Centre’s forensic pathologist Dr Prashant Samberkar.

He was also of the view that Teoh had landed on his feet and crashed onto the right side of his body, judging from the impact injuries sustained on his right torso and limbs.

A small piece of bone fragment was also found in Teoh’s right sock and his right leg was also found to have become shorter than his left.

Dr Khairul Azman then demonstrated to the court how he believes Teoh might have landed on the ground after the fall.

Replying to questions posed by lawyer Tan Hock Chuan, who is appointed by the Government to assist coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas, Dr Khairul Azman said Teoh could have died less than 36 hours (a day and a half) before the post-mortem (conducted about noon on July 17), based on the odour and state of rigor mortis.

Teoh, 30, was found dead at 1.30pm on July 16, which was a day after he had gone to the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office located on the 14th and 15th floor of Plaza Masalam near here.

His body was found on the fifth floor. He had been summoned to go there to help investigations into the disbursement of state funds.

Dr Khairul Azman told the inquest that besides fractures in his legs and arms, there were also fractures in Teoh’s skull, neck and jawbone.

Teoh had severe damage to his chest cavity, which was filled with blood.

He had also broken almost all his ribs and had serious damage to the protective ribcage layer that covered his heart.

“There was a lot of internal bleeding in several parts of his body as well as under his skin,” he added.

On another matter, Dr Khairul Azman said it was not a common practice for him to conduct a post-mortem with another pathologist.

“Then why did you perform the post-mortem with Dr Prashant?” asked Tan.

Dr Khairul Azman replied: “The post-mortem was conducted with Dr Prashant due to the request made by his brother Teoh Meng Kee who wanted Dr Prashant to be present.”

Earlier, Gobind Singh Deo, who is representing Teoh’s family, protested that Dr Khairul Azman testified in Bahasa Malaysia although he had written his post-mortem report in English.

Gobind said many crucial points could be lost in the impromptu verbal translation done by Dr Khairul Azman while testifying.

However, Tan argued, saying: “It’s not right to force someone to speak in a language he’s not comfortable with.”

Azmil Muntapha then told Dr Khairul Azman that he was not being compelled to speak in English but urged him to ascertain that nothing was lost in translation.

Dr Khairul Azman agreed to read directly from his report.

The inquest continues today.

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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Stains at MACC office not blood

By WANI MUTHIAH and NURBAITI HAMDAN

SHAH ALAM: The dried brownish red substance found at the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office at Plaza Masalam here is not blood.

Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, who is holding a watching brief for the family of deceased political aide Teoh Beng Hock, told reporters yesterday that preliminary tests had confirmed that the stains were not blood.

“They have told us that there is a possibility that it is anti-rust paint that looks like blood. But this is subject to confirmation by laboratory tests,” said Gobind.


He said the report on the findings was expected to be presented at the inquest today.

Government DNA profiling expert Dr Seah Lay Hong conducted the preliminary test on the substance and will be carrying out further tests to identify it.

The stains were discovered in several areas in the premises during a site inspection last Friday.

Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas as well as lawyers representing the Government, Teoh’s family, the Selangor state government and the Bar Council went to the MACC’s office on the 14th and 15th floor of the building on Friday.

They also visited the 5th floor service corridor where Teoh’s remains were found on June 16, a day after he was questioned by the MACC over the disbursement of state funds.

Earlier in the day when the inquest started, Gobind had applied for tests to be carried out to determine whether the stains were blood.

Azmil allowed the application, which was not objected to by Tan Hock Chuan, who is the government-appointed lawyer assisting the coroner.

Also at the inquest yesterday morning were associates of renowned Thai forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, who is the director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, Thailand.

The two – Dr Triyarith Temahivong, Chief of Clinical Forensic Medicine at the institute and Police Lt-Col Somchai Chailermsooksant, forensic scientist and the institute’s Crime Scene chief – also examined the premises yesterday.

The state government had also enlisted the services of local forensics consultant Supt (R) Amidon Anan who was at the scene with Dr Seah and the two Thai experts.

The two experts, who arrived on Sunday, spent the entire day going through the relevant photographs as well as DNA and forensic reports.

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Monday, August 10, 2009

妹妹:明福死得不明不白‧“赵家仍走不出悲痛”

(马六甲)赵明福的妹妹丽兰週日(8月9日)晚上代表家人在行动党逾2000人大集会上含泪指出,赵家至今仍无法走出悲痛。

她在唸出演词时,现场鸦雀无声,洋溢几分伤感,尤其是赵明福的双亲和兄妹,更是禁不住抽泣。

赵家的感言全文如下

我们的至亲明福离开我们已25天,我们仍然无法走出悲痛。

我们无法接受他死得不明不白,我们也於7月28日会见首相纳吉时,亲自告诉他,明福不是,也不会自杀。

政府必须成立一个全面的皇家调查委员会,彻查明福的死因,让真相早日大白,还明福公道。

感谢各造关怀支持

我仅代表家人借此机会,感谢世界各地的朋友及全国人民、团体组织、不分政党、种族及宗教,给予我们的关怀、鼓励及支持。

我们尤其要特別感谢民主行动党在治丧期间及过后,全力协助我们。我们也要感谢我们的远亲郭金福夫妇自7月16日以来,一直在关心及协助我们。

明福是我们赵家的骄傲,我们感到欣慰,因为他也成为人民的骄傲。

当他的孩子长大懂事后,我们会告诉他,他的爸爸明福是我们的骄傲,国家的好公民,也是人民的骄傲。

谢谢!




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Sunday, August 9, 2009

Videos of Teoh's inquest on A-G’s Chambers website

PETALING JAYA: Videos of the inquest into Teoh Beng Hock’s death are now available on the Attorney General’s Chambers website.

A total of eight videos have been uploaded to the website, together with statement notes of the inquest.

The notes contain transcripts of the inquest and the names of the key personnel involved.

There are two videos from the first day of the inquest and three videos from the second day, along with statement notes.

A total of three videos are available from the third day of the inquest.

However, no statement notes were provided. The public can access the videos at www.agc.gov.my.

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Saturday, August 8, 2009

Cops urged to conduct further probe

SHAH ALAM: The police have been asked to conduct further investigations on several new areas and items found during a visit by parties involved in the inquest into the death of Teoh Beng Hock.

Gobind Singh Deo, who is leading the team that is holding a watching brief for Teoh’s family, said several areas and items were identified as significant and which would assist in the inquest into Teoh’s death.

However, Gobind declined to divulge more details on the new findings when asked to elaborate.

Speaking to reporters outside the Plaza Masalam after the visit yesterday, he said:

“In the event we find that the expert witnesses (who are scheduled to testify next week) require time to conduct more investigations, we will not hesitate to make an application to the coroner for orders to that effect.”

Gobind also expressed disappointment that investigations only revolved around the theories of death caused by a fall from a high building and suicide, and not any other possibilities.

Lim Lip Eng, another lawyer holding a watching brief for the family, claimed that some blood-like stains were found at the back staircase linking the main Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam to the 15th floor of the building.

Lim had gone to the building for site inspection with coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas, court officials, police personnel and lawyers representing the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Teoh’s family, Selangor state government and Bar Council.

The lawyer also claimed that similar stains were also found in one of the 15th floor MACC offices. He said this was a disturbing turn of events given that inquests must only begin when all investigations had been concluded.

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Parties view Teoh’s death site

By WANI MUTHIAH and NURBAITI HAMDAN

SHAH ALAM: Parties involved in the inquest into Teoh Beng Hock’s death, led by coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas, visited the site where the political aide was found dead in Plaza Masalam here.

During the two-hour visit, Azmil Muntapha and the legal teams viewed the visitors lounge, pantry, the sofa on which Teoh allegedly slept on and the interrogation room where he was questioned in the Selangor branch of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office.

Lawyers representing Teoh’s family, the state government and Bar Council, started arriving in groups from 9.10am.

When Azmil Muntapha arrived, he headed for the 14th floor of the building where lawyers, court officials and police were waiting at the MACC office.

Not long after, pressmen who waited outside the building saw coroner and lawyers peering out of the window from which Teoh purportedly fell.

The entourage later took the staircase to the 15th floor where part of the MACC office was located.

At 10.50am, inquest officials headed towards the fifth-floor corridor of Plaza Masalam where Teoh’s body was found on July 16.

After spending some time there, they took the stairs to the fourth floor of the building to the security control room.

Lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, representing the state government, told reporters that the lawyers took the opportunity to see the site from every possible angle and were given the chance to take photographs.

“We were also taken to see the CCTV footages in the control room. We have seen the place where the death occurred and now we’ll wait for the forensics experts to take the stand next week,” he said.

Teoh, 30, was found dead on the fifth floor of the building after he was interviewed by the MACC, which has its state office on the 14th floor.

The political secretary to Selangor exco member Ean Yong Hian Wah was reported to have been a witness in an investigation into the alleged abuse of constituency development funds by several Selangor Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen.

The inquest continues on Monday.

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