Govt to pay RM600,000 compensation to Teoh Beng Hock's family

PETALING JAYA: The government has agreed to pay RM600,000 in compensation to the family of the late Teoh Beng Hock (pix), who was found dead the day after being called in for interrogation at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Selangor headquarters building in 2009.
The family's lawyer, Gobind Singh Deo, described the settlement which was formalised at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today as a great victory for the family after six years of legal battles, as the MACC and government had now acknowledged that they were responsible for Teoh's death.
The family said in court that they accept the payment to the extent of the claim for negligence, but demanded that police conduct further investigations into the matter and charge those persons responsible for his death.
"Despite the agreement on the damages, Teoh's family are pushing for those responsible for his death to be charged in accordance with criminal law," Gobind said.
The Court of Appeal panel had on Sept 5 last year ruled that that Teoh's death was "accelerated by unlawful acts by MACC officers".
Gobind, who is Puchong MP, said in a statement today that the onus is now on the police to do what is necessary to ensure justice is served.
Teoh, who was the political aide to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on July 16, 2009 on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam. He was earlier called by the MACC to assist in investigations into allegations of abuse of state funds.
The family filed a suit in October 2012 against 10 MACC officers, the commission and the government for negligence and assault while Teoh was in their custody, which resulted in his death.
A Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Teoh's death in 2011 had rapped the MACC for their harsh treatment of Teoh although he had been called in to assist the investigations only as a witness.
Gobind, who took over the case from the late Karpal Singh, said he will not take any payment despite the settlement as he had been working pro bono on the case.
"This was the clear instructions given to me by my late father in respect of his services in this case before his untimely death last year," he added.
Meanwhile, Ean Yong said this was a long awaited judgement and that it is proof of the authorities' negligence.
Expressing disappointment on the failure of the authorities to bring those responsible for Teoh's death, Ean Yong said the government and the police should be fully committed to find the culprits.
"It is not about the money. It is about justice for Teoh and his family," he told theSun, adding that the question of who were responsible has not been answered till today, and there has not been any aggressive investigation to find the truth.