By Kim Quek
July 24, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
JULY 24 — The Royal Commission of Inquiry on Teoh Beng Hock’s death (RCI) says that Teoh had committed suicide.
And what had driven this promising young political aide to take his own life?
RCI provides the answer in the concluding paragraph on its probe (para 232 of RCI Report), which refers to the supposed final stage of the all-night grilling of Teoh in the MACC office on July 15, 2009:
“TBH experienced a change in his state of mind. And in a matter of hours, this change transformed him from being in the low-risk group for suicide into the high-risk group. The doubts, extreme emotional conflict and the immense feeling of guilt were all intolerable . . . Finding no viable strategies to surmount the hurdle of accusations levelled, he found himself unable to escape from the suffocating quagmire in which he was trapped. Losing all hope, TBH would have felt trapped and succumbed to despair . . . TBH would have found that the only way for escape from the torment he was undergoing was by jumping out of the window, even though it meant taking his own life.”
Judging from the severity of anguish described by RCI, one would have thought Teoh must have been cornered for improprieties over millions of public funds, and now was the moment of reckoning when he had to face the terrible shame of having to dishonour himself, his loved ones, his party and his government.
Not at all the case.
Petty and dubious allegation
Teoh was in fact only brought in by MACC as a witness to assist in the investigation of an unfounded allegation against his political boss of having abused a mere RM2,400 of public funds — allegedly claiming the money to buy flags that were not delivered.
If you are a novice to the case, you would certainly have expressed shock and disbelief that such a trivial matter could have driven a seasoned political activist to commit suicide. But RCI thinks otherwise, for which they have come up with a host of reasons, the main ones of which are summed up in para 230 of the report, which I quote in full:
“These intense stages of interrogation must have created serious doubts in TBH’s mind as regards his action in relation to his duties as YB Ean’s political secretary. Signing his name but affixing YB Ean’s seal, the absence of at least three quotations before the awarding of a project or programme, the alleged kickbacks to the DAP, the direct awards of projects, and fixing prices to goods required for projects also weighed heavily on his mind.”
RCI has earlier explained in its report that MACC officers had bullied Teoh with all sorts of false accusations of wrongdoing. These included Teoh signing on documents with boss Ean’s rubber stamp (though Teoh was actually blameless as his own name was clearly written on the document, indicating he was signing on behalf of his boss), awarding contracts without calling at least 3 quotations (though this rule was superceded by a new Selangor government directive allowing direct awards for projects under RM20,000, but Teoh apparently was not familiar with these rules).
Other events that had compounded the distress of Teoh, in the opinion of RCI, were the removal of his hand phone to which Teoh was addicted, and the disclosure of the password to his email account, which would have enabled an invasion into his privacy.
Teoh and boss’s integrity intact
However, in RCI’s laborious weaving of the picture of gradual doom that was supposedly experienced by Teoh that had eventually reduced him “to almost a mental and physical wreck” (para 229 of the RCI Report), RCI had forgotten the cardinal fact of the case — that the integrity of Teoh and his boss was intact and Teoh was well aware of that. In fact, when Teoh was taken in, he was already familiar with MACC’s witch-hunting against Selangor’s Pakatan leaders that had been going on for some time — it was part of BN’s strategy to destabilise the Selangor state government.
Under the circumstances, even if MACC had succeeded in creating self-doubt in Teoh through the false accusations as outlined in para 230, these are all technical in nature. There was no element of dishonesty, as neither Teoh nor YB Ean had illegally pocketed any money. How is it then that RCI can make the conclusion that such dubious allegation of minor technical misconduct had plunged Teoh into a state of “extreme emotional conflict”, “immense feeling of guilt”, “losing all hope” and “succumbed to despair”?
In reaching these bizarre conclusions, hasn’t RCI made a giant leap in fantasy land?
By all accounts, Teoh was a bright young man of integrity and cheerful disposition, looking forward to his imminent marriage to his lover who was then conceived with his child. Will such a person jump from the 14th floor of the building just because he was unjustly and unfairly interrogated by government officers?
Professor Paul Edward Mullen, emeritus professor of forensic psychiatry of Monash University, who was brought in by the Malaysian Bar to prepare a report, seems to have provided the answer when he stated (quoting from para 209 of RCI Report):
“TBH was firmly in the lowest risk group for suicide when he was taken into MACC custody. And if TBH . . . did kill himself, things were likely to have occurred both to undermine his psychological stability and to frighten him literally to death . . .”
Could Teoh have been frightened to death by the interrogation antics, albeit cruel, waged by MACC officers over such minor and dubious accusations?
Isn’t the answer obvious?
Psychiatric reports quoted out of context
On the subject of psychiatrists’ reports, it is regrettable that RCI has resorted to quoting these out of context to make them appear as if these psychiatrists support its postulation of suicide. This is decidedly not the case.
The press release of the Malaysian Bar has quoted from these reports showing that none has supported the suicide theory.
On Professor Mullen’s report, the Malaysian Bar says: “He further opined that the contest of the events that had taken place was not one ‘which in [his] experience, leads to suicide in custody’, as he had not been made aware of anything ‘to explain panic and distress sufficient to drive [Teoh Beng Hock] to conclude his honour had been irreparably tarnished.”
And the joint report of Dr Badiah Yahya and Dr Nor Hayati Ali, who were present in the court proceedings and had interviewed people close to Teoh, apart from confirming Teoh’s status as low risk for suicide, states:
“We did not have any evidence on how the investigation was conducted as there were ‘no written questions posted to [Teoh Beng Hock]’ or audio recording as to ascertain the amount of pressure that he experienced. It is not known whether he had experienced in his mind the effects of being possibly prosecuted on the allegations, whether it would have been devastating for him and/or his organisation.”
Despite these two psychiatrists’ clear stand that there were no evidence that suggested Teoh’s suicidal move, RCI persisted in using part of these psychiatrists’ observation to buttress its suicide postulation. The psychiatrists observed that Teoh was subjected to emotional stress over these two events prior to his questioning by MACC:
• Teoh had to bring forward his wedding after discovering that his fiancée was pregnant.
• The gathering of documents by MACC from District and Land Office insinuating misappropriation of allocation by his boss YB Ean.
That RCI has to resort to using these two rather tame events to support its conclusion of suicide only exposes that RCI is actually scraping the bottom of the barrel to convince a sceptical public.
Bringing forward a marriage due to unplanned pregnancy is already a common and accepted occurrence in local society and, hence, it is not supposed to raise any eyebrow, not to mention causing any emotional crisis.
MACC officers visiting government offices to fish for evidence to incriminate Pakatan leaders has long been recognised as BN’s modus operandi to sabotage the Selangor state government, and should therefore be no big deal to a seasoned politician like Teoh.
Spinnig suicide will damage BN more
However, despite RCI’s unconvincing attempt to spin a suicide, it has nevertheless done a good job in exposing the deplorable state of lawlessness and abuse prevailing in MACC, which, like almost all other institutions, has been depraved through the long reign of a corrupted political leadership.
If only RCI has applied the same measure of honesty on the cause of Teoh’s death, as it has done in criticising MACC’s mismanagement, it would have done its political masters a great favour, as nothing will reassure the electorate more than the moral courage to own up to an ugly truth.
As it turned out, Teoh Beng Hock in his death will continue to take his pound of flesh from the political masters who were ultimately responsible for his tragic death.
///TBH would have felt trapped and succumbed to despair . . . TBH would have found that the only way for escape from the torment he was undergoing was by jumping out of the window, even though it meant taking his own life.”///–RCI
Even if TBH was accused of corruption, the punishment for taking a bribe of RM 2,400 would not have been a death sentence. But TBH was just a witness, and the despair was in terms of his inability to clear the name of another person. TBH did not have to jump out of the window to keep any secret, as if he could expect further harassment to keep those secret and he would expect more suffering to come. At the end of the hours of torture in questioning by MACC ruffians TBH could at last leave MACC-hell. The end results of the questioning is not for TBH to bear.
There are more accused persons who had actually committed criminal acts, and they are certainly in despair in terms of trying to get acquitted of their crime. Are we to suggest that convicted criminals, of more serious offence than a bribery case involving RM 2,400, would take their life out of despair.
Indeed after the RCI members have read all the counter-argument to prove them wrong, and in despair for not being able to convince the dissenters would they run to the highway, even though they might be killed by on coming cars?
The RCI has to gain respect from the work. This RCI has lost all respect.
For anyone in low risk to transform, owing to physical/psychological pressure, to high risk category, the impulse to escape from the pressure and jump from the window would have to be at the highest point (without time for cool down an deliberation) when his tormentors were around him still meting out the torment. If that were the case, if true, how is it that the three accused of tormenting him have never said that they were present and around to see him jump?
If such severe grilling was meted out to someone suspected of
involvement in a matter involving a miserable RM2,000 plus,
what about those who were involved for unaccountable
millions or even billions?
Given the severity of such cases, the accused would have been
grilled to even a much higher degree, but were they?
Although some of them have gone gone through “trials”, most
of them were pictured smiling happily for the cameras, perhaps
knowing full well what the verdict will be.
And in the end they did got off scot-free because of “lack of evidence”.
So, judge for yourselves.
Rakyat KNOW it’s NOT HOW MUCH involved or suspected 2 b involved
Rakyat KNOW it’s WHO is involved
Whenever BN’s kaki involved, even though huge sums stolen, they went in n out MACC smiling n alive, no stress, no threat, no sweat
NR, HH, UmnoB/BN very happy with d performance of MACC, good boy, well done
You don’t need to travel all the way to Disneyland to experience FANTASYLAND! We have one right here in MALAYSIA, the Bolehland!
///RCI provides the answer in the concluding paragraph on its probe (para 232 of RCI Report), which refers to the supposed final stage of the all-night grilling of Teoh in the MACC office on July 15, 2009:///–Kim Quek
///“TBH experienced a change in his state of mind. And in a matter of hours, this change transformed him from being in the low-risk group for suicide into the high-risk group. The doubts, extreme emotional conflict and the immense feeling of guilt were all intolerable . . . Finding no viable strategies to surmount the hurdle of accusations levelled, he found himself unable to escape from the suffocating quagmire in which he was trapped. Losing all hope, TBH would have felt trapped and succumbed to despair . . . TBH would have found that the only way for escape from the torment he was undergoing was by jumping out of the window, even though it meant taking his own life.”///– RCI
Let me respond to the above RCI report in detail.
“TBH experienced a change in his state of mind.///RCI
Was there any evidence that TBH experienced a change in his state of mind? How can RCI say that there was a change in his state of mind? TBH was probably wondering at that time when the MACC would finish their questioning of him. Questioning would not hurt, but physical actions and injuries on TBH did, or would.
/// And in a matter of hours, this change transformed him from being in the low-risk group for suicide into the high-risk group. ///–RCI
That is the most ridiculous conclusion since the RCI did not know what questions were actually asked of TBH, and how each such question might have mentally affected him. It must be borne in mind that TBH was there only as a witness to answer questions in relation to someone else’s alleged wrong doings. He had no fear of the questions. He might be apprehensive of barbaric actions by MACC officers. But that fear would only last so long as he remained in custody, and he could make public any ill treatment of him the moment he stepped out of the MACC office. As a former reporter TBH had the ability to write. The low risk and high risk group for suicide is only relevant to people who may have to choose suicide as a means to escape punishment. However, TBH was not liable to any criminal charge in connection with the investigation by the MACC. The fact that he refused to submit to MACC intimidation to say yes to whatever MACC suggested would at most cause him physical injuries, and he could certainly have his day in court if he could walk out the next day to make a police report about any physical injury sustained by him during his interview with the MACC. TBH need not hide his injuries, out of shame. It is the party who caused him injuries who should be ashamed of their actions. However, it was MACC who chose not to give TBH the opportunity to make any police report in respect of his treatment by MACC. TBH did not change from a low-risk suicide to high risk suicide group.
///The doubts, extreme emotional conflict and the immense feeling of guilt were all intolerable . . . ///–RCI
There can be no sense of guilt if one was telling the truth. Even if TBH chose to protect whoever he chose to protect, he could only try to do his best. Clearly the actions of the persons TBH was asked to report on were not of his creation, and he had no moral responsibility. Even if he had, it was RM 2,400. It was not murder, and the punishment was not death. It would be stupid for a person to commit suicide in order to evade punishment for an alleged bribery of RM 2,400. Unless RCI had any evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of TBH, it is neither reasonable nor logical for RCI to conclude that TBH had experienced any emotional conflict or immense feeling of guilt. Telling the truth cannot make one feel any sense of guilt, and it is not the emotional feeling that is intolerable, it was the physical injuries which were intolerable. If RCI’s conclusion as to emotional conflict and immense feeling of guilt had been based on pure speculation, one could equally speculate that TBH may have been thrown out of the window by person or persons unknown.
///Finding no viable strategies to surmount the hurdle of accusations levelled, he found himself unable to escape from the suffocating quagmire in which he was trapped.///–RCI
What is the basis for this conclusion? TBH was there to give evidence. Whatever accusation levelled against TBH, there is still the court to determine whether he would be guilty of any charges that might be made against him. Any such charges would not result in capital punishment. We don’t usually see an arrested suspect commit suicide just because he cannot surmount the hurdle of the accusation levelled against him on that day. He can always fight another day. TBH was only trapped in terms of being in custody. Even if he should have perjured whilst giving evidence, and there was never any evidence or suggestion to this effect, he need not have jumped out of the window!
///Losing all hope, TBH would have felt trapped and succumbed to despair . . . TBH would have found that the only way for escape from the torment he was undergoing was by jumping out of the window, even though it meant taking his own life.”///–RCI
What sort of interrogative methods would result in someone losing all hope? Is RCI suggesting that TBH had been tortured to the extent that he preferred death to staying in MACC’s custody? TBH had everything to live for: a new bride and a new baby. What would make someone who had everything to live for commit suicide? What made TBH lose faith in the rule of law in this country? Did his experience with the MACC make him lose all hope in life, so much so that he had to jump out of the window? If that was the case, the RCI has much to do to establish clearly what had happened to TBH during his interview with the MACC. It is not right to speculate that he may have suffered emotional distress which led to his suicide. What needs to be established is the cause of such extreme emotional distress that apparently resulted in his death.
Either TBH was thrown out of the window by person or persons unknown WHILST IN MACC’s CUSTODY or he had suffered such extreme emotional distress WHILST IN MACC’s CUSTODY that led to him committing ‘forced suicide’. In either event, the MACC has many questions to answer and it does not appear that the RCI had asked the right questions, let alone arrived at the answers.
I am a Christian and I always felt the Taoism has super magic. For example, the Taoism master allowed one to call out the dead spirit and talk to them. Whether this is true or not, it is a different story, but the fact is it has been done. In this Teoh case, why no one has contacted him through the Taoism master and asked him actually what happened and why he died? We hope to know the answer, if any, from he himself.
pulau_sibu, you have been watching too many Chinese ghost movies. I think you also believe those advertisements put up by fortune tellers that they can forecast 4-digit lottery numbers for you. (for a fee of course) If they are so hebat, why didn’t they forecast those numbers for themselves and sapu all instead of giving the fortune to you for a measely RM50?
to k1980, i think the Taoism masters should be working for non-profit purpose. so if we put aside the 4D, it should work. If not, we have to ban all these temples.
This is the best chance for the Taoism masters to prove their skills (and the truth of their religion).
Wow! Space age revelation by Minister Nazri:
Nazri: ‘Kematian Teoh tidak berlaku jika siasatan ikut standard’
MACC pays lip service to reforms after RCI. If you believe them, then wait for 2020 ….or….maybe much later.
Kick racist UMNO out next GE and get immediate reforms in 2012.
Which is better?
Another Space -age revelation:
“Time needed to develop Bumiputera economy under ETP, says Husni”
Well, NEP 1969 -2011 (43 years), Bumi economy hardly changed becos UMNO and cronies licked the BUMI pie and swallowed it all.
2012 – KICK UMNO out. Bumi economic pie will immediately improve. Wow! Husni, this would be the better space-age revelation.
pulau_sibu if you call out the dead spirit and talk to it, assuming it can be done, who would believe it? Certainly not our authorities. Neither will the courts. Paranormal phenomenon is not recognised at all as credible or even that it exists. The only good that could possibly come out of it is, assuming the dead could cross the divide and tell the loved ones A to Z of what happened and who dunnit, the loved ones in possession of this knowledge will know with focus as to where to look for evidence to verify what they were told. Even then they would require the authorities to believe & to look for evidence based on what the dead spirit said. The other thing is, pulau_sibu, if you believe in such things, it may not be such a good idea to disturb the dead. We don’t know enough te price if any that needs to be paid for invoking it. Unless they themselves do on their own accord and come back and try communicate.
Jeffrey,it’s based on your will to contribute la..aiyoh..haai.don’t know one meh..hmmm!By the way,pulau-sibu,please write an official request on behalf of us,please.We’ve run out of ideas how to save canland from further going up side down.What say monsterball?Chau…
OMG! The RCI & government really expect the world to believe the verdict on TBH death? Hello, the findings in the report contradict itself, if there is no evidence at all to say TBH is involved in corruption practise, why would TBH commit suicide? Since TBH is innocent, there is no explanation in this world could have justify he was suicide.
I say….correct correct correct.
Jeffery….take tak tahan advise…go go go man.
Actions speak louder than words..Jeffery.
You have millions of words spoken…not take tak tahan advise and act.
Actions speak louder than words..Jeffery.
You have millions of words spoken.
Now act a bit la….as tak tahan suggested…..OK?
Murder.
Reminds me of the PKFZ case.
A murder without a murderer.
Thats BN style.
This is one of the many murders done with UMNO knowledge..
What about Dr Liew and his wife killed in his BMW?