Teoh’s family wants PM to guarantee Dr Pornthip’s safety

The late Teoh Beng Hock’s family wants Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to guarantee Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand’s (picture) safety should she testify in the on-going inquest into his death.

Teoh’s family, accompanied by the DAP’s Lim Kit Siang and Anthony Loke, told reporters that they hoped the PM would keep to his promise made to them on July 28, 2009, when he said that the federal government would do its best to find out the truth being Teoh’s death.

“It was never an easy decision for us to exhume Beng Hock’s body for a second autopsy. The decision was an unimaginably tough one for the parents. We made the decision because of Dr Pornthip’s testimony in the inquest that Beng Hock might have been tortured and strangled. Furthermore, she testified that there was an 80 per cent possibility that Beng Hock’s death was caused by homicide and not suicide. We hope that Dr Pornthip can help us find out the truth of Beng Hock’s death,” said Teoh Lee Lan, Teoh’s sister.

She said the family was “disappointed” that Dr Pornthip had, over the weekend, declined to come due to “political pressure”.

“Luckily, Dr Pornthip said yesterday she is willing to testify at the inquest if there is an iron-clad guarantee of her safety from the Malaysian government.”

Teoh’s parents, who were also present, kept their silence and let Lee Lan do the talking.

Lee Lan listed three conditions that they wanted Najib to fulfil:

1.An official guarantee from the government and the Attorney-General’s Chambers on her safety;

2.She must be able to perform her duty as an independent witness for the Teoh case; and

3.Her on-going investigations in southern Thailand where thousands have died in a Muslim separatist insurgency will not be affected.

“We sincerely hope that this is an understanding and can be clarified as soon as possible. If because of one misunderstanding and Beng Hock’s inquest ends with a question mark, it will be our greatest regret forever.”

Teoh’s inquest is set to resume on April 20, the same date as his birthday.

“We hope Dr Pornthip’s testimony can be the best birthday present for Beng Hock,” said Lee Lan.

“The case has gone on for too long, this is a tragedy. The PM should hear about this plea soon, he’s got a blog, Twitter, Facebook… there’s no reason why he would not know, no matter where he may be,” said Lim.

The flashy Thai pathologist had testified in court here that Teoh’s death was “80 per cent homicide”, contradicting Malaysian pathologists who say the political aide could have fallen to his death or suicide.

Dr Pornthip’s second testimony will be crucial to the inquest, and to prove allegations that there was foul play in Teoh’s death.

Teoh, 30, had been questioned by anti-graft officers investigating claims his boss had misused state funds. He was found dead on July 16 last year, nine floors below the Selangor MACC office in Shah Alam.