Joint Statement
Amnesty International Malaysia
Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement
Amnesty International Malaysia and the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement jointly launched an online petition titled “Demand Justice for Teoh Beng Hock – End Impunity and Ensure Accountability Within Law Enforcement Agencies” today, in conjunction with United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on 26 June.
In a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly on 12 December 1997, the UN proclaimed the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, aimed at the total eradication of torture and the implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Twelve years after the landmark proclamation, Teoh Beng Hock, a 30-year-old political aide, was found dead under suspicious circumstances on the fifth-floor rooftop of Plaza Masalam, beneath the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Selangor office, where he had been interrogated overnight as a witness in an investigation into alleged misuse of state funds. He was subjected to prolonged, late-night questioning without rest—an oppressive and unlawful practice. His death sparked national and international outrage, raising serious concerns about abuse of power, custodial violence, and the lack of accountability within law enforcement agencies.
After a long judicial process and a Royal Commission of Inquiry, the case/the probe culminated in the Court of Appeal decision in 2014. The verdict legally acknowledged that Teoh Beng Hock’s death was not self-inflicted, but the result of unlawful actions, including by MACC officers. While the Court did not list formal recommendations, its ruling demanded a proper criminal investigation, individual accountability, interrogation reform, and systemic oversight — none of which were adequately acted upon.
Two new investigations took place in 2014 and 2018 following the Court of Appeal’s order. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met the Teoh family in August 2024, promising that the investigation would be fair, referring to the to the Court of Appeal decision. In May 2025, the Attorney‑General’s Chambers (AGC) classified the reinvestigation into Teoh Beng Hock’s death as “No Further Action (NFA), concluding there was insufficient evidence to charge any individual under the law.
Over this 11-year span, despite multiple efforts by civil society and Teoh Beng Hock’s family to call for the proper investigation of the case and a court finding of criminal wrongdoing, no one was held accountable, and the MACC officers implicated [VV1] were never charged. More than a decade later, justice remains elusive for Teoh Beng Hock and his family.
We call on the public to sign the petition and urge the Malaysian authorities to take immediate, transparent and meaningful action to ensure justice for Teoh Beng Hock.
Justice delayed is justice denied. Stand in solidarity with Teoh Beng Hock’s family and all victims of custodial abuse.
Everyone is encouraged to take action at the link below and share it widely:
custodial deathsJustice delayed is justice denied. Stand in solidarity with Teoh Beng Hock’s family and all victims of custodial abuse
Sign the petitionFor media enquiries please contact Divya Shesshsan, Communications Officer at Amnesty International Malaysia ([email protected]) or Ng Yap Hwa at TBH-ADA.