RCI said to be ridiculed by parties unable to accept findings

KUALA LUMPUR: People who cannot accept the Royal Commission of Inquiry
(RCI) finding that political aide Teoh Beng Hock committed suicide are
said to be ridiculing the concept of the commission.

A member
of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Consultation and
Prevention of Corruption Panel, Syed Akhbar Ali, said the
non-acceptance could also be construed as disrespect for the laws of
the country.

"I do not understand why they cannot accept the
finding when the commission was formed on public demand and followed
the due process of the law.

"If they accept when they like it
and reject when it does not favour them then they are not respecting
the commission," he told Bernama Sunday, July 24.

He was asked
to comment on the statement by Bar Council President Lim Chee Wee that
the body did not concur with the RCI's decision that Teoh committed
suicide because it was unsupported by facts and evidence.

He
said it was up to the Bar Council to appeal or challenge the finding in
court but if the outcome was the same, it should be accepted with an
open mind.

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) law lecturer Assoc
Prof Datuk Abd Halim Sidek said an investigation should be carried out
on the allegation by the Bar Council that Teoh died due to the
negligence of MACC officers named in the RCI report.

"If Teoh was driven to suicide as a result of the MACC officers' action then they must be brought to court," he said.

"I think the Bar Council president's statement was premature and he
jumped the gun. They must be patient and wait for the investigation," he
added. - Bernama