KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — The High Court is set to hear the civil suit filed by the family of the late Teoh Beng Hock against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Government from November 19 - 21, news reports said Friday.
In their suit, which is set to be heard before High Court judge Justice Rosnaini Saub, Teoh’s family are seeking damages for their sadness, loss of their dependency and negligence on the part of the defendants, the Star online news portal said.
Federal counsel Azizan Md Arshad, who is acting for the defendants, has said the judge has asked all parties to work out a settlement if possible in order to avoid trial.
The MACC and the Government are contending that the former political aide's death was due to his own negligence.
Teoh, 30, was the political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah when he was found dead on July 16, 2009 on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam. Teoh had just finished giving a statement at the office of the Selangor branch of the commission on the 14th floor of the building.
In their lawsuit, Teoh's family claimed that the MACC had failed to give an explanation on how Teoh was found dead at the place.
They said MACC officers had wrongly attacked Teoh, causing him fear, torment, extreme distress and apprehension of immediate physical violence.
Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas had given an open verdict in January 2011 that the death of political aide was not a suicide, nor was it homicide.
