Tan Sri Dr Ramon Navaratnam urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today to investigate a former Sime Darby official’s torture allegations against a MACC director.
The chairman of the MACC panel on prevention and consultation said the anti-graft agency risked losing public support if such complaints were not investigated in a transparent manner.
“This (torture during detention) is entirely unacceptable because you cannot fight corruption if you don’t get public support,” Ramon (picture) told The Malaysian Insider today.
“Public support will be lacking if there is the impression or perception that those arrested are badly treated. So, it is in the best interest of the MACC to clear this matter through open and transparent investigations with high integrity,” he said.
Last night, former Sime Darby Engineering senior manager Mazhazmi Jamaludin accused MACC Special Operations director Datuk Mohd Jamidan Abdullah of assaulting him during investigations in a graft case.
Mazhazmi’s lawyer Shamsul Sulaiman told The Malaysian Insider that Jamidan had allegedly tortured his client to implicate the owner of a shipbuilding company in the alleged corruption.
Mazhazmi lodged a police report in Putrajaya on his torture allegations.
Earlier yesterday, Mazhazmi, 36, was charged in the Sessions Court here with receiving a RM200,000 bribe from MLC Shipbuilding Sdn Bhd owner, Redzuan Goh Mohammed Karian, on December 31, 2008 for allegedly proposing that the latter’s shipbuilding company obtain a US$134.2 million (RM416 million) contract from Sime Darby to construct and sell one lay barge as well as two tug and supply vessel hulls.
Mazhazmi claimed that Jamidan had ordered him to strip naked, blindfolded him and threatened to harm his private parts during detention on June 21 this year.
SHAH ALAM: There is evidence that Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officers physically and psychologically abuse witnesses and suspects during questioning, a lawyer told the inquest into Teoh Beng Hock’s death.
“The witness will identify the MACC officers involved. However, I cannot reveal the name of the witness now because of security reasons,” said Gobind Singh Deo, who is holding a watching brief for the political aide’s family, said he had in his possession police reports and photographs of injuries suffered by an individual to support his claim.
Teoh, who was the political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was summoned to the state MACC office located at the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam on July 15, to be questioned about alleged irregular disbursement of state funds. He was found dead the following day on the fifth floor.
Accusation leveled are :- Oofficers took turns to slap an individual, blindfolded and forced him to strip naked. Also alleged to have wrapped an iron rod in newspapers and hit the man in the stomach, buttocks, hands and legs.Also said to have been kicked in the stomach and a cane was used to hit his private parts and feet.
Gobind made these allegations when questioning Selangor MACC assistant enforcement officer Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus.
He told coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas that the person would be called to testify what had happened to him when Selangor MACC officers interrogated him at their office in Plaza Masalam, the same place where Teoh’s body was found on July 16.
Can this report be used? Earlier, MACC counsel Datuk Abdul Razak Musa said the police report should not be allowed into the inquest as it was not relevant to the case, pointing out that this would open up the floodgates which would divert the proceedings from focusing on finding out the cause of Teoh’s death.
Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas, who gave Gobind the green light to use the police report to frame his questions, explained to Mohd Ashraf his rights as a witness in the inquest.
“You have the right not to answer if you feel that the questions may implicate you,” said Azmil Muntapha.
The inquest was adjourned to Sept 8.
Candle vigil was held , seeking answer for Teoh death.
Mr Teoh seen here holding the hp.Teoh, who was the political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah(centre)
Malaysia Forensic team , processing teoh body at MACC building.
Teoh body found at the MACC buiding at 5th floor , believed to be drop from 13 floor.
Teoh family members performing burial rites at the site of the Teoh body.
A protester scuffles with policemen during a protest outside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) building in Shah Alam on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 17. Malaysian police fired tear gas and water cannons, and arrested dozens of demonstrators Saturday in an attempt to disperse a mass street protest against draconian internal security laws.
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More than 3,000 people have packed the Kelana Jaya stadium in a two-hour gathering to mark the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock. Pakatan Rakyat top brass, including Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, took turns to address the crowd.
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Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas who is hearing the inquest on the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock is this morning visiting Plaza Massalam in Shah Alam where the state MACC office is located.
Azmil arrived at the building at about 9.50am and headed straight to the 14th floor of the building. He was accompanied by lawyers, court officials and other personnel.
Reporters were however not allowed to join in the scene-visit nor enter the MACC office. They have been asked to wait at the lift lobby. Teoh's body was found on the fifth-floor corridor of the building a day after he was taken in for questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on July 15.
