(Kuala Lumpur, 23rd) In the early morning of July 17, 2009, the forensic doctor entrusted by the Teoh family was scheduled to personally go to Klang Hospital to participate in the autopsy of Teoh Beng Hock’s body, but was nowhere to be seen. It was only around 9am that the family learned that the forensic doctor, initially supposed to “represent the family”, had been quietly picked up by a police car.
This unusual arrangement triggered intense suspicion from the family: Why did the police intervene in the transportation? As a forensic doctor assisting the family, why did he not meet with them beforehand? Was there a deeper arrangement or intervention behind this? These lingering questions left a shadow of unease on the hearts of the Teoh family.
This unusual arrangement triggered intense suspicion from the family: Why did the police intervene in the transportation? As a forensic doctor assisting the family, why did he not meet with them beforehand? Was there a deeper arrangement or intervention behind this? These lingering questions left a shadow of unease on the hearts of the Teoh family.
On Tuesday, Teoh Lee Lan posted Chapter One of “July 17th” on her Facebook, reconstructing the events after her brother Teoh Beng Hock’s death. She also shared the pain and doubts the Teoh family faced after the case, aiming to allow Teoh Beng Hock’s son, those interested in knowing the case details, and new political figures to learn the clues to the truth.
The Teoh family members left the Klang Hospital mortuary around 11pm on July 16. At that time, the Klang Police Chief verbally notified them that the autopsy would begin at 6am the next morning, requiring the family to arrive early. However, from the notification to the gathering, there were less than five hours left.
“Why was it so rushed? Was it intentional to compress the time so we’d be caught off guard?” Teoh Lee Lan recalled her doubts at the time.
That night, Teoh family representatives Ouyang and Tianqiu discussed and confirmed that Dr. Prashanth, a forensics doctor from UM, would act as the family’s representative, assisting the family together with their lawyer at the autopsy, and informed Teoh Lee Lan that he would drive himself there the next morning.
“Why was it so rushed? Was it intentional to compress the time so we’d be caught off guard?” Teoh Lee Lan recalled her doubts at the time.
That night, Teoh family representatives Ouyang and Tianqiu discussed and confirmed that Dr. Prashanth, a forensics doctor from UM, would act as the family’s representative, assisting the family together with their lawyer at the autopsy, and informed Teoh Lee Lan that he would drive himself there the next morning.
Teoh Lee Lan returned to Kuala Lumpur late at night, unable to sleep at all and emotionally exhausted. She recalled that, no matter how painful, she had never cried as a child, but on that night, for the first time in 29 years, she shed all her tears.
The forensic doctor did not show up, but was picked up by police car
The next morning, Teoh Lee Lan and Beng Hock’s fiancée Shu Hui arrived early at the hospital. The mortuary assistant confirmed Dr. Prashanth had not arrived and the autopsy had not yet begun. The assistant explained that the autopsy would be jointly conducted by the hospital’s forensic doctor, Dr. Khairul, and Dr. Prashanth.
However, by around 8am, the forensic doctor still hadn’t arrived. After asking Ouyang and Tianqiu, Teoh Lee Lan found out that at around 8am, a police car had picked up Dr. Prashanth.
“Why did the police have to pick him up? Wasn’t he supposed to drive himself?”
She immediately questioned the mortuary assistant and was told, “Both forensic doctors are meeting with the then Selangor Police Chief, Khalid Abu Bakar, to be briefed on the case.”
Teoh Lee Lan questioned why the Police Chief would personally brief them about the autopsy. Did this constitute interference in an independent autopsy? She sensed something was wrong.
However, by around 8am, the forensic doctor still hadn’t arrived. After asking Ouyang and Tianqiu, Teoh Lee Lan found out that at around 8am, a police car had picked up Dr. Prashanth.
“Why did the police have to pick him up? Wasn’t he supposed to drive himself?”
She immediately questioned the mortuary assistant and was told, “Both forensic doctors are meeting with the then Selangor Police Chief, Khalid Abu Bakar, to be briefed on the case.”
Teoh Lee Lan questioned why the Police Chief would personally brief them about the autopsy. Did this constitute interference in an independent autopsy? She sensed something was wrong.
The Status of ‘Family Representative’ in Doubt—No Private Meeting with Family on the Autopsy Day
By noon, the Teoh family members were finally arranged to meet the two forensic doctors. Dr. Khairul started asking questions, including the deceased’s work situation, whether he had troubles, any health problems, etc.; meanwhile, Dr. Prashanth remained silent throughout.
“Isn’t he supposed to represent the family? Why didn’t he say a word?” The anxiety in Teoh Lee Lan’s heart grew, but she didn’t ask on the spot.
She later found out that Dr. Prashanth did not attend as a ‘family-appointed forensic doctor’ as expected, but as a participant arranged by the government. During the inquest, the family’s lawyer Gobind Singh Deo questioned Dr. Prashanth about his role, but he denied representing the family.
“Isn’t he supposed to represent the family? Why didn’t he say a word?” The anxiety in Teoh Lee Lan’s heart grew, but she didn’t ask on the spot.
She later found out that Dr. Prashanth did not attend as a ‘family-appointed forensic doctor’ as expected, but as a participant arranged by the government. During the inquest, the family’s lawyer Gobind Singh Deo questioned Dr. Prashanth about his role, but he denied representing the family.
The Family’s Doubts Unresolved—Suspicious Findings During Examination
During their brief farewell in the autopsy room, Teoh Lee Lan saw her brother Teoh Beng Hock lying bare-chested, with red dots on his chest and neck, sending shivers down her spine.
The Teoh family had been happily preparing for a wedding; just five days earlier, the whole family had attended a bridal expo together, arranging the banquet and photoshoot. “How could someone just be gone like that?” Teoh Lee Lan asked in heartbreak.
That day, Nirvana Group proactively contacted the Teoh family, offering free funeral and burial arrangements. Teoh Lee Lan then contacted her mother, and her uncle handed the phone to a distant relative, former Malacca MP Kerk Kim Hock, to help coordinate related matters.
During their brief farewell in the autopsy room, Teoh Lee Lan saw her brother Teoh Beng Hock lying bare-chested, with red dots on his chest and neck, sending shivers down her spine.
The Teoh family had been happily preparing for a wedding; just five days earlier, the whole family had attended a bridal expo together, arranging the banquet and photoshoot. “How could someone just be gone like that?” Teoh Lee Lan asked in heartbreak.
That day, Nirvana Group proactively contacted the Teoh family, offering free funeral and burial arrangements. Teoh Lee Lan then contacted her mother, and her uncle handed the phone to a distant relative, former Malacca MP Kerk Kim Hock, to help coordinate related matters.