SHAH ALAM: A Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) assistant enforcement officer told the Teoh Beng Hock inquest he did not hear the sound of people bickering coming from his office toilet in the wee hours of July 16.
Mohd Najeib Ahmad Walad also testified he was at the state MACC office until 2.30am on that day and added the atmosphere there had been calm.
Mohd Najeib’s testimony appeared to contradict his superior officer Mohd Nasir Ismail’s testimony on Wednesday.
Mohd Nasir, who is the investigating officer of the case involving Teoh, had testified his colleague Bulkini Paharudin told him the deceased had had an argument with Kajang Municipal Council councilor Tan Boon Hwa on July 16.
Mohd Nasir had told coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas that Bulkini had told him the bickering had allegedly taken place in the MACC’s men’s room at 2.00am that day.
When cross-examined by counsel Gobind Singh Deo, who’s holding a watching brief for Teohs family, Mohd Najeib said he would have run away if he had heard an argument taking place.
Teoh, who is the political aide to Selangor executive councilor Ean Yong Hian Wah was taken to the MACC office on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam here on July 15 to be questioned over the alleged irregular disbursement of state funds.
He was found dead at the buildings fifth floor service corridor the following day.
Mohd Najeib, who was the inquest’s 18th witness, also told coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas that Teoh had looked uncomfortable and worried when the MACC officers paid Ean Yong’s office an impromptu visit on July 15.
He added Teoh had also appeared to be troubled when waiting to be questioned at one of the MACC offices lounge areas.
Gobind probed Mohd Najeib on Teoh’s alleged demeanor and asked him how he knew that Teoh appeared to be worried.
From the body language and facial expression, he was uncomfortable with the MACC officers, said Mohd Najeib.
Gobind also quizzed Mohd Najeib over his testimony that Teoh had appeared to be uncomfortable at the MACC office.
Gobind: You said he appeared to be worried at the (MACC) office? What did you mean? Why?
Mohd Najeib: I don’t know. He appeared to be uncomfortable being there.
Gobind: So, if given a chance, he would have left? Mohd Najeib: I don’t know.
Gobind then asked Mohd Najeib why he had not asked Teoh why he looked uncomfortable and if he (Mohd Najeib) cared about it at all.
Mohd Najeib replied he didn’t care and it was probably due to his mood that day.
However, he added he would have attended to Teoh if the latter had complained about something to him.
Mohd Najeib also said he was not aware that there were other witnesses being questioned at the state MACC office that evening.
Gobind, who accused Mohd Najeib of lying during cross-examination, also asked him if he knew force was being used against witnesses by the MACC.
Mohd Najeib: As far as I know, no.
Gobind: So, are you saying there may be but you don’t know?
Mohd Najeib: Yes.
When it came to his turn to cross-examine Mohd Najeib, counsel holding a watching brief for Ean Yong, Salim Bashir asked the MACC officer if he and his colleagues had gone the executive councilors office with a search warrant.
Mohd Najeib replied that the officers had not obtained a search warrant before going to Ean Yong’s office.
Salim: So, did you all ambush his office? Did you give notice before going there?
Mohd Najeib: No.
Salim: Do you agree that it would make them uncomfortable, as they were not prepared to welcome the MACC?
Mohd Najeib: No.
Later, during his turn to cross-examine Mohd Najeib, counsel holding a watching brief for the MACC Datuk Abd Razak Musa asked him if they would have been able to obtain any documents if two or three days notice had been given before the visit.
Mohd Najeib: No
Below is an account of the developments as they unfolded.
04:00pm Court adjourns to 8.30am Friday.
03:47pm: Mohd Najeib disagrees with Gobind that MACC officers work in teams to interrogate a witness. For example six to seven officers questioning one witness and the same time.
03:44pm: Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, representing MACC, objects, saying Gobind's questions are irrelevant.
03:36pm: To a question, Mohd Najeib says he did not hear any shouting or any sound of people arguing as he was leaving the office at about 2.30am.
03:20pm: Mohd Najeib says Teoh insisted on driving his own car to the MACC office with his laptop and CPU. He says his superior Mohd Anuar Ismail had earlier asked Teoh to go in the MACC vehicle.
03:10pm Gobind Singh Deo, representing Teoh's family, questions Mohd Najeib.
03:08pm: Mohd Najeib says he printed out four documents from Teoh's laptop. The four documents were marked as exhibits.
02:57pm: Mohd Najeib says Teoh had insisted on holding on to the laptop and CPU, seized by MACC, during the ride to Plaza Masaalam.
02:40pm: Mohd Najeib says he was one of the five MACC officers who met Teoh at the state secretariat building. The MACC team was investigating the state fund disbursement, he says.
02:30pm: 18th witness Mohd Najeib Ahmad Walad, 29, Selangor MACC officer, takes the stand. Tan Hock Chuan, acting for Attorney-General is questioning him.
02:27pm: Coroner's Court starts.
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