KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian government and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Malaysia's anti-graft body, has been ordered to pay the family of former Selangor political aide Teoh Beng Hock RM600,000 in damages and RM60,000 in cost after admitting negligence over Teoh's death under the MACC's custody.
High Court judge Justice Rosnaini Saub on Tuesday instructed the defendants to pay RM600,000 in damages after the defendants admitted to negligence resulting in the death of Teoh, the political secretary to Selangor executive councillor and Democratic Action Party (DAP) leader Ean Yong Hian Wah.
Justice Rosnaini also instructed the defendants to pay RM60,000 in cost, The Star reported.
The High Court's decision on Tuesday on the suit brought by Mr Teoh's family ended a six-year legal battle.
Mr Teoh was found dead on on July 16, 2009, on the rooftop of a building next to the office of the MACC, after apparently falling from the building's 14th floor. He was called in for questioning by the MACC in connection with a probe into the alleged misuse of state funds by his boss.
Malaysian police in March reopened investigations into his death on the orders of the Court of Appeal.
The court had ruled last September that the death of the 30-year-old was caused by "unlawful acts" by unknown persons, including MACC officers who had questioned Mr Teoh. The ruling overturned the open verdict reached by a coroner in an inquest to determine Mr Teoh's death.
The MACC and the Attorney-General's Chambers had previously cleared the three MACC officers who interrogated Mr Teoh.
The lawyer for Mr Teoh's family, Mr Gobind Singh Deo, said the family was demanding that the police conduct further investigations into Mr Teoh's death and to take action against those responsible.
"I think this is a great victory for the Teoh family. After six years of legal battles, they now have an acknowledgment by the MACC and government that they are responsible for his death," Mr Gobind was quoted saying by the Malaysian Insider.
