KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 — One of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers who had interrogated Teoh Beng Hock before the former DAP aide plunged to his death in 2009 has been promoted, a minister has said.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of integrity Datuk Paul Low said in a written Parliament reply last Wednesday that investigating officer Mohd Anuar Ismail has been promoted to Grade 48 from Grade 44, while the other two investigating officers in the case — Hishamuddin Hashim and Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus — remained at their Grade 54 and Grade 29  respectively.

“However, if these officers are found to have committed misconduct, the appropriate action will be taken,” Low said in a reply to DAP’s Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.

The Court of Appeal ruled last September that Teoh did not commit suicide and directed the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to reopen investigations.

The AGC said in response that it would prosecute those responsible for the 30-year-old’s death, but noted that the “thorough” police investigation into Teoh’s demise at the then Selangor MACC office in Shah Alam had not resulted in finding any criminal liability.

The appellate court had ruled that Teoh’s death was caused by the act of “person or persons unknown”, including the MACC officers who had questioned him overnight before he fell to his death on July 16, 2009.

Both the MACC and the AGC have previously cleared of any wrongdoing the three MACC officers whom the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) had pinpointed as driving Teoh to suicide because of their “oppressive, prolonged and aggressive” interrogation, namely Hishamuddin, Mohd Ashraf and Arman Alies.

The RCI headed by former Court of Appeal judge Tan Sri Steve Shim had recommended that MACC take action against the trio, though Anuar was not named.

Anuar, who was part of the MACC investigation team on the night of Teoh’s interrogation, testified at the RCI in March 2011 that he was responsible for Teoh’s welfare, but not for the demise of the young man, who was then Ean Yong Hian Wah’s political secretary.

Anuar has also denied roughing up suspects or witnesses.

Teo urged the police and the MACC today to take action against the officers who had interrogated Teoh.

“The unwillingness to take action against the trio is either a silent protest against the finding of the three learned Court of Appeal judges, or a cover up,” said the DAP assistant national publicity secretary.