PUTRAJAYA: Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail has filed an application to the High Court today for a revision of the open verdict delivered by the Coroner’s court in the inquest into Teoh Beng Hock’s death.
“Having studied the verdict and in the light of concerns expressed at the verdict, a decision was made to apply to the High Court for revision of the same,” Gani said in a statement yesterday.
He added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had been informed of the decision.
Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas had on Wednesday ruled that the death of the Selangor political aide in 2009 was neither a suicide nor homicide.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister had earlier announced the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to look into the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation procedures, saying it has three months to complete its probe.
He added that the RCI would have specific terms of reference and would not be expanded to include a probe into how the former political aide had died in 2009.
Najib said the RCI would be formed under Section 2 of the Investigation Commission Act 1950 and would be tasked with looking into the procedures of the MACC, where appropriate, and to investigate the conduct of any of its officials.
“The names of the members of the RCI, comprising prominent people would be finalised soon and announced after the Cabinet meeting next Wednesday,” he said.
Teoh, the former aide to Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah plunged to his death from the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam on July 16, 2009.
Before his death, Teoh was interrogated overnight by MACC officials on allegations that his former boss had been abusing state funds.
Asked if his decision to form the RCI was due to political pressure, Najib said: “No, because I’ve made this statement back in July 2009. How can there be political pressure. You refer to my statement on July 22, 2009. I have already indicated the government’s intention to form the RCI.”
The Prime Minister said that the government would do its utmost to find out the truth of Teoh’s death.
“We all have to be mindful the laws of the country. We should not be carried away with our emotions. What is important is for us to know the truth. The government wants to know the truth. We will do our utmost to find out the truth…what really happened,” he said.
“I hope the family concerned… we sympathised with their position. We understand what they have gone through. We hope they will allow this process to take place and hopefully we will be able to establish what really happened,” he said.
Najib said he was willing to meet Teoh’s family.
Asked on his personal view of the open verdict, the Prime Minister said: “My personal view is not important. What is important is that the process of the review will take place (and) if there is a process of review it means that generally the government wants the decision to be reviewed.” — Bernama