Gobind Singh Deo, who is holding a watching brief for Teoh Beng Hock's family, told coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas on Friday that he had before him a police report which detailed how witnesses and suspects were allegedly tortured during interrogation.
He claimed that among the forms of abuse listed in the report were repeated slapping to the face, blindfolding, asking the witness to strip, wrapping a steel rod with a newspaper and using it to hit stomach, arms and legs.
Gobind also told Azmil that he would bring a witness who had been subjected to torture and abuse during interrogation by MACC.
"The witness will identify the MACC officer involved. However, I cannot reveal the name of the witness for now because for security reasons," he added.
The revelation came about when Gobind was questioning the inquest's 19th witness - Selangor MACC officer Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus, 25.
Below is an account of the inquest on Friday as they unfolded.
12:29pm: Court adjourns to Sept 8.
12:25pm: Coroner tells Gobind to not stretch the report outdated ones. Gobind can test his theory before the coroner but he needs to limit it to one report.
11:42am: Ashraf tells the court that he did not hear any shouting. Gobind thunders, "So, who is lying? Bulkani or you?" Razak gets up to object.
11:41am: Coroner tells Gobind not to repeat the suggestion.
11:40am: Gobind suggests to Ashraf that he stayed back at MACC office until 5am to torture Teoh. Before Ashraf can answer, Razak gets up to object.
11:35am: Ashraf says his orders come from his superior, Hairul Ilham Hamzah. Hairul Ilham gets his orders from operations deputy director Hishamuddin Hashim.
11:33am: Gobind resumes questioning Ashraf.
11:27am: Coroner says the court proceedings are recorded and available for viewing on the Attorney-General's website. "I don't see how the court can stop (halang) anyone who wants to make comments outside courtroom. The statements made inside the courtroom are what matters. It is people's opinions versus other people's opinions. If you want to see what happens inside court, you can see the recording on the website. We are dealing with many theories here. We limit ourselves to what happens here (courtroom). What happens outside is beyond our control."
11:24am: Gobind says if Razak had followed the agreement and confined questioning to the four documents from Teoh's laptop, press conferences like what Ean Yong had given would not happen. Gobind says Ean Yong was forced to give the press conference to defend himself and DAP after Razak made the allegations against DAP.
11:18am: Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, representing MACC, tells coroner that the inquest has been politicised with press conferences held outside courtroom. For instance on Wednesday, Ean Yong gave a press conference and commented on the case after court proceedings ended.
11:17am: Coroner's court resumes.
10:37am: Gobind asks for a short break. Court in recess.
10:35am: Ashraf say that he did not see anyone while on his way to the pantry to get water for Teoh. There was also no one in the pantry.
10:30am: Gobind suggests that in that two hours, Ashraf had the opportunity to use force on Teoh. Ashraf disagrees.
10:24am: Gobind: You were asked to shake him up, to break him down.
Ashraf pauses momentarily. He then answers, "It is like to ask a person until you get a correct answer."
10:15am: Ashraf received the order to interview Teoh at 9.40pm on July 15.
10:05am: Ashraf maintains that he did not question Teoh.
Gobind: You didn't ask him? Not a question at all?
Ashraf: No.
Gobind: Then, who reported back to Hairul Ilham?
Ashraf: Arman Alies.
Gobind: You earlier said you reported back to Hairul Ilham. Are you lying?
Ashraf: I was with Arman when he reported to Hairul Ilham.
10:01am: Gobind asks, "But you said Teoh couldn't answer questions. Wouldn't questioning him be an interrogation?" Ashraf said the questions came from Arman Alies and not him. The questions were regarding claim vouchers by Teoh's boss, Selangot exco Ean Yong Hian Wah.
10:00am: Ashraf says he did not "interrogate" Teoh. He merely "interviewed" Teoh in the meeting room.
09:57am: To a question, Ashraf tells court he has never heard of the word "oppression".
09:54am: Among the investigation techniques Ashraf has learnt is how to mark investigation papers, how to compile witness statement according to significance and flow. However, he told Gobind that he was not taught interrogation techniques on witnesses.
09:51am: Ashraf said before joining the MACC, he had a six-month stint at Pulapol (police training centre) in Ayer Itam.
09:49am: Gobind Singh Deo, representing Teoh's family, is questioning Ashraf.
09:46am: Ashraf says he last saw Teoh when he gave Teoh the glass of water. He did not see anyone with Teoh at the couch when he gave water to Teoh.
09:45am: Ashraf's image recorded on CCTV leaving MACC office through lobby at 5.12am.
09:42am: Ashraf left MACC office at 5.06am, July 16. He clocked out with his punch card when he left.
09:40am: Ashraf got out of his room and saw Teoh on the couch. He did not speak to Teoh. Teoh had asked for water. Ashraf took a glass of water from the pantry and brought it to Teoh.
09:35am: Ashraf saw Teoh lying on the couch in the waiting area (ruang tamu) of the investigation division at 4.45am on July 16.
09:29am: Ashraf tells coroner's court the interview, conducted with another MACC officer Arman Alies, lasted from 10.40pm to 12.40am on July 16 in MACC office at Plaza Masalam. He said Teoh was generally co-operative although there were a few questions he could not answer.
09:25am: Tan Hock Chuan, acting for the Attorney-General, is questioning Ashraf. Ashraf said he received orders from superior Hairul Ilham Hamzah, to assist investigating officer Mohd Anuar Ismail to interview a witness, Teoh Beng Hock.
09:23am: 19th witness, Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus, 25, a Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officer, takes the stand.
09:20am: Day 16 of inquest begins
More details at: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/28/nation/20090828092401&sec=nation
QUESTIONS
Why Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus only left MACC office at 5:12am on July 16, 2009 when the interrogation was said to be over at 12:40am or Teoh was allegedly discharged at 3:45a.m.??? Why he stayed behind till 5:12am if the recorded statement was already signed by Teoh at 3:45am??? There is something irreconcilable in term of the task assigned to him; I doubt he was the person typing the statement or he have to assist other officers unless it was meant to torture whoever witnesses at MACC on rotation basis! Mr. Gobind should grill the MACC Officers for reasons as why they stayed behind if the interrogation was allegedly over at 3:45am!
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