Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Teoh inquiry: Witness alleging torture says he is both BN and DAP member



A witness, who claimed he was tortured by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers during questioning, told the Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) that he was a member of both the DAP and Barisan Nasional.

To a question by MACC's counsel Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, T. Sivanesan agreed that he was a member of the DAP.

When Muhammad Shafee asked why he had to pause before answering the question, Sivanesan, 24, said: "I'm a member of DAP and Barisan as well", causing laughter in the court room.

Muhammad Shafee then said: "You cannot be trusted. Semua pun boleh masuk (You can just join anyone)," to which Sivanesan disagreed.

When the lawyer suggested that Sivanesan was not loyal to anybody, the latter replied, "I'm loyal if they are good to me."

Sivanesan said "No" when Muhammad Shafee asked if it was included in his salary, as an employee at Selangor state government-owned Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd, to lie about the alleged abuse he sustained.





Earlier, Muhammad Shafee tried to raise discrepancies over Sivanesan's testimonial at the inquiry held at the court complex here Wednesday.

It was revealed to the commission, led by Federal court judge Tan Sri James Foong, that Sivanesan had not confessed to a corruption offence, as he had claimed.

On Tuesday, Sivanesan testified that he had made the confession after he could not endure the beatings from MACC officers.

However, Muhammad Shafee, who read out the confession statement, pointed out that Sivanesan had not admitted to the crime.

"This is not a confession. I put it to you that you (Sivanesan) are lying," the lawyer said, to which Sivanesan disagreed.

Muhammad Shafee also questioned Sivanesan's claim that he was caned in the genital area, leading to his underwear being torn.

"If you were caned until your underwear got torn, you would not be here now. You would be six feet under," he told Sivanesan.

Teoh, the political aide to Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, was taken to the Selangor MACC office on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam for questioning over the alleged illegal disbursement of state funds on July 15, 2009.

He was found dead at the buildings fifth floor service corridor the next day.

The RCI was formed to probe his death after an inquest returned an open verdict.


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