Teo Beng Hock delegation urges govt to allow UN rapporteur visits, citing custodial deaths and stalled justice

GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia’s commitment to human rights is under scrutiny after the Teoh Beng Hock (TBH) delegation told the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva that the government has yet to act on its standing invitation to UN Special Rapporteurs.

The delegation urged Putrajaya to prioritise a visit by the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, stressing that independent assessments are crucial to addressing custodial deaths and ensuring investigations meet international standards.

“I have travelled thousands of miles to bring this demand for justice before you. I ask you to press for accountability,” said Teoh Lee Lan, sister of the late Beng Hock, noting that 17 years after his death, no one has been held criminally responsible.

The delegation called for Beng Hock’s case to be reopened through an independent criminal investigation, citing the Court of Appeal’s 2014 ruling that his death was caused by “unlawful acts by unknown persons.” Despite this, authorities closed the case in 2023 with “no further action.”

Koong Hui Yein, chairperson of the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement, said the government must show political will before international pressure intensifies. The delegation is also meeting UN officials, diplomats, and human rights organisations to highlight custodial death concerns in Malaysia.

Beng Hock, a political aide, was found dead in 2009 after overnight questioning at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office. His case remains unresolved despite years of legal and civil society efforts.

 The Sun Malaysia