Justice for Beng Hock, Sarbani: Police trying to cover up to protect MACC?

Reveal police probe before calling inquest, says Sarbaini’s family

By Syed Mu’az Syed Putra

June 08, 2011

The late Sarbaini's body being laid to rest at the Kota Damansara Muslim Cemetery April 7, 2011. — Picture by Jack Ooi

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — The controversy surrounding Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed’s death could prove to be even more embarrassing than the death of a DAP aide almost two years ago, with his family questioning the police’s motives for an inquest.

The senior Customs officer’s family oppose an inquest and demand police reveal their investigation findings. They believe there is a cover-up, a claim which has been equally pursued relentlessly by fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

Raja Petra, in several blog postings on his Malaysia Today website, has claimed that Ahmad Sarbaini’s assets and financial status was checked and cleared by the police.

He’s accused the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) of trying to tarnish Ahmad Sarbaini’s name following his death.

“The family is now confused and do not know what to do...the family is less agreeable for an inquest because it seems like an attempt to delay the case. The family insists that the police reveal the results of the investigation before taking any further action,” said a source close to the family of the deceased.

The source told The Malaysian Insider that Ahmad Sarbaini’s family also did not want the same fate as Teoh Beng Hock’s inquest, with years passing and the case still being investigated via the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI).

“What will happen if there is an inquest? Will there be other witnesses or proof? Reveal this immediately, do not keep quiet like you are hiding something,” the source added.

Sarbaini, 56, was found dead on the badminton court of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) building on Jalan Cochrane on April 6 at about 10.20am, barely two hours after walking in.

His death, which occurred while the Teoh Beng Hock RCI was still ongoing, came as a huge blow to the anti-graft body’s already battered credibility.

Teoh, a DAP aide, fell to his death at the then-Selangor MACC office on July 16, 2009. An 18-month inquest returned an open verdict, ruling out both suicide and homicide in Teoh’s death.

The police have recommended an inquest be held for Ahmad Sarbaini (picture, right), and the Attorney-General has agreed to the idea. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers have criticised the idea, citing Teoh’s case as reason to back their doubts.

“At last we have no choice but to rely on politicians to demand justic for Ahmad Sarbaini,” said the family source.

Meanwhile Raja Petra, in his latest posting today alleged that the police had conducted a thorough check on Ahmad Sarbaini’s assets and found no “unusual or extraordinary” wealth.

“He (Ahmad Sarbaini) had only three modest cars — a Perodua Kancil, a second-hand Honda CRV and a Proton Persona — and a Modenas Kriss bike, which he rode to the MACC office on that unfortunate morning of 6th April, the day of his death.

“He owned an apartment in Bukit Tinggi, Klang (RM65,872), an apartment in Puncak Alam (RM68,988), a Semi-D cluster house in Saujana Impian in Sungai Buloh (RM230,000) and RM35,000 in savings in Amanah Saham Bumiputra...All these were duly accounted for,” said the popular blogger.