Letter reveals top MACC man, politician collusion MALAYSIAKINI K Kabilan Aug 20, 09 The mystery letter which emerged at the Teoh Beng Hock inquest yesterday is believed to contain claims connecting a top ranking MACC officer to the interrogation of the political aide, which could have led to his death. Believed to be written by a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission insider, the letter alleged how the top officer and an influential politician had worked together to start investigations into alleged corrupt practises by Selangor's Pakatan Rakyat leaders. And it was on this understanding that Teoh was called up for questioning. The unsigned letter, which carried the MACC official letterhead and written in Bahasa Malaysia, also stated the top officer's modus of interrogation - which involves pulling the suspects by the belt. It further alleged that the top official was questioning Teoh on the day the DAP man was found dead. However the letter did not state on how Teoh died or if the officer was directly involved in his death. Further claims made in the letter include: • The officer did not punch out from work when he left Plaza Masalam where the Selangor MACC is located on that day. However, the letter stated the time of him leaving the office. This is important as it could show that this officer was the last person to have seen Toeh on that day, alleged the letter. • The officer did not provide his DNA samples along with his other colleagues. He only gave a sample privately at a later day. • That he ordered his officers to wipe clean the window from where Teoh had apparently fallen from. • His alleged corrupt practices while investigating previous cases and that he is generally corrupt. • He had helped close an investigation on the politician. The letter also stated that the top officer had been serving in the state for a long time, well beyond the usual five-year term for high ranking officials. The letter also claimed that he was living beyond his means by having several houses, a petrol station in Shah Alam and several plots of land. He was also allegedly caught for khalwat with his junior officer at the Shah Alam lake early this year. Lawyers remain tight-lipped Yesterday, lawyer Gobind Singh Deo submitted the letter to coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas, asking him to adjourn the inquest pending an investigation into the contents of the letter.
Gobind said that he was handed the letter by an individual on Tuesday evening. Azmil, who agreed to instruct the police to probe the letter, had then urged all lawyers involved in the case not to reveal the details of the letter to anyone. However he had not ordered a gag order on the matter. Lawyers involved in the matter when contacted by Malaysiakini today remained tight-lipped on the content of the letter. However, it is learnt that the letter was also sent out to several other people since last week, including some members of parliament. One MP who spoke to Malaysiakini said that he received the letter last week and confirmed the contents of the letter. "Some big names were mentioned in the letter and the claims are massive. If they are true, some very big people from Selangor MACC and the political circle will have to pay the price," he said, requesting anonymity. The MP also said that the letter appeared to be "an inside job from MACC". He added that the letterhead used was from the MACC's headquarters in Putrajaya. Teoh was found dead, with his belt snapped, at the fifth floor landing of Plaza Masalam on July 16, a day after he was summoned by the MACC for questioning in regards to their probe into an alleged misappropriation of state allocation funds. He was questioned at the 14th floor. The inquest is being held to determine how he died. It will continue on Monday pending the investigation into the letter.
Original url : The Shit has hit the fan