DAP urges AG to explain NFA decision on Teoh Beng Hock case
Published on: Sunday, June 08, 2025
Published on: Sun, Jun 08, 2025
By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Gobind (right) and Loke. - Filepic by Yusof Mat Isa | Malay Mail PETALING JAYA: DAP has called on Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar to explain in detail why he thinks there is insufficient evidence to prosecute anyone for criminal offences involving the death of former political aide Teoh Beng Hock. In a joint statement today, DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo and secretary-general Loke Siew Fook also urged Dusuki to review the decision by the Attorney-General's Chambers to classify the investigation into Teoh's 2009 death as requiring no further action, or NFA.
Advertisement 'The attorney-general, and no one else, has the discretion to prosecute under the Federal Constitution,' they said. 'He must explain why he is unable to do so in this case, particularly in light of the decisions of the Court of Appeal and civil proceedings in the High Court.' Gobind and Loke said DAP has been consistent in its call for action to be taken against those responsible for Teoh's death. The statement follows a letter dated May 30 from Dusuki to the family's legal representative, Ramkarpal Singh, seeking to explain the AGC's rationale for classifying the case as NFA.
Advertisement In the letter, Dusuki said there was 'insufficient evidence' to support a criminal prosecution. Teoh died on July 16, 2009 at the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after being questioned for hours by the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters. Last month, police informed Teoh's family that their latest investigation into the case had been classified by the AGC as NFA. On Nov 21 last year, the High Court directed the police to complete their long-delayed investigation into Teoh's death. At an inquest, the coroner returned an open verdict. However, the Court of Appeal ruled in 2014 that the death was caused by 'one or more persons unknown', including MACC officers. In 2019, police launched an investigation under Section 342 of the Penal Code for wrongful confinement. Before 2018, two special investigation teams had been set up – one in 2011 and the other in 2015 – to look into the incident, but both cases were classified as NFA by the public prosecutor. Gobind and Loke noted that DAP assisted Teoh's family in a civil suit which resulted in the government and the MACC admitting liability for negligence leading to Teoh's death. An award of RM600,000 was made to the family, with costs of RM60,000. They said both the findings of the Court of Appeal and the civil court provided a basis for the police to conduct further investigations into the search for the perpetrators behind Teoh's death. 'While the duty to investigate the case and to identify those responsible in this case is with the police, it is for the attorney-general to decide his next step based on the police's investigations,' they said. Noting that Teoh's family is considering challenging the NFA in court by way of judicial review, Gobind and Loke said they support the action. 'We also call upon the attorney-general to review his decision and push ahead with charges against those responsible for Teoh Beng Hock's death without further delay,' their joint statement added. - FMT * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — DAP today called on Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar to explain in detail his decision to classify Teoh Beng Hock's death as requiring no further action (NFA). In a joint statement issued by DAP national chairman Gobind Singh Deo and secretary-general Loke Siew Fook, the party said the Attorney General must justify why he believes there is insufficient evidence to prosecute anyone for Teoh's death. 'The Attorney General and no one else has the discretion to prosecute under the Constitution. He must explain why he is unable to do so in this case particularly in light of the decisions of the Court of Appeal and civil proceedings in the High Court,' the statement said, as published on the DAP's official Facebook page. On May 21, the Attorney General classified the case as NFA after receiving investigation papers from the police, and on May 30, issued a letter to the family's lawyers stating that there was not enough evidence to support criminal prosecution. The party said it had consistently pushed for accountability since Teoh's death in 2009 and had formed a legal team that initiated an inquest to determine the cause of death. The inquest found bruises on Teoh's neck, but on January 5, 2011, the coroner returned an open verdict. DAP then challenged the finding in the High Court, which upheld the coroner's decision, prompting an appeal to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal overturned the earlier findings, concluding that Teoh's death was caused by 'an unlawful act or acts of persons unknown, inclusive of MACC officers who were involved in the arrest and investigation of the deceased.' DAP also supported the family in a civil suit that led to a government admission of liability for negligence and a RM600,000 compensation award with RM60,000 in costs. The party argued that both the Court of Appeal and civil court decisions provided grounds for renewed police investigations to identify those responsible. DAP said it supports the family's intention to challenge the NFA decision through a judicial review. 'We support this action and also call upon the Attorney General to review his decision and push ahead with charges against those responsible for Teoh Beng Hock's death without further delay,' the party said.
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KUALA LUMPUR: DAP has called on Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar to provide a detailed explanation for his decision not to pursue criminal charges in the case involving the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock. In a joint statement issued by DAP national chairman Gobind Singh Deo and secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook, the party expressed disappointment over the Attorney-General's decision to classify the case as "no further action" (NFA), despite previous court rulings that pointed to foul play. "The Attorney-General must explain why he believes there is insufficient evidence to prosecute anyone for Teoh Beng Hock's death, especially in light of the findings of the Court of Appeal and civil proceedings," the statement read. According to DAP, the case was referred to the Attorney-General by police on May 21 and was subsequently classified as NFA. A letter dated May 30 was later sent to the family's legal representatives, stating that the investigations did not uncover sufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution. Teoh, who was a political aide to a Selangor state executive councillor, died in 2009 while in the custody of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). "DAP has been consistently calling for accountability in the case. "The party previously assembled a legal team that initiated an inquest into Teoh's death, which revealed bruising on his neck. "However, the 2011 Coroner's Court returned an open verdict." Subsequent legal challenges saw the Court of Appeal overturn the Coroner's decision, concluding in 2014 that Teoh's death resulted from "an unlawful act or acts of persons unknown, inclusive of MACC officers who were involved in the arrest and investigation." In a related civil suit, the government and MACC admitted liability for negligence, resulting in a RM600,000 settlement to Teoh's family, along with RM60,000 in costs. "These court decisions form a solid basis for further investigation to identify those responsible for Teoh Beng Hock's death. "Whilst the duty to investigate the case and to identify those responsible lies with the police, it is for the Attorney-General to decide his next step based on that investigation," the statement added. The party also voiced its support for the family's reported move to challenge the NFA decision via a judicial review. "We call upon the Attorney-General to reconsider his decision and move forward with pressing charges against those responsible, without further delay."
