WANG KELIAN RCI
PUTRAJAYA: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the discovery of temporary transit camps and mass graves in Wang Kelian, Perlis has decided that the credibility of the fifth witness, DSP M Joeking Maniam Anthony, should be reviewed.
The matter was decided by RCI chairman Tun Arifin Zakaria on the fifth day of the RCI proceedings today, when the 14th witness ACP Wan Hamzah Wan Kadir informed that Joeking who is General Operations Force (PGA) Northern Brigade Battalion 3, Company B commander, had been suspended from work on March 1.
Arifin said detention of the witness by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for investigations into a corruption case, as informed by Wan Hamzah should be noted and the latest update on the investigation should be known, to justify the credibility of the witness.
His arguments were supported by RCI deputy chairman Tan Sri Norian Mai who said a review was important because it involved the credibility of the witness.
Wah Hamzah, who is Bidor, Perak PGA, Battalion 3 commander, in the RCI proceedings today said Joeking was arrested by the MACC in 2015 in connection with the smuggling of diesel, rice and ketum leaves.
Apart from Joeking, several PGA members and four officers were also detained by the MACC on March 2, 2015 and it is understood that the detention was in no way related to the Bukit Wang Burma or foreign immigrants’ cases, he added.
Wan Hamzah in the proceedings also refuted Joeking’s earlier statement to the RCI that he (Joeking) was prohibited from participating in the investigations into the discovery of the temporary transit camps on his superiors’ directive.
According to Wan Hamzah, the prohibition was not related to the discovery of the transit camps and mass graves at Bukit Wang Burma but was related to a corruption case in which Joeking was involved.
He said the letter prohibiting Joeking from being involved in any operation was issued after he was arrested by the MACC.
According to Wan Hamzah, Joeking also went against the PGA General Orders when he carried a mobile phone while conducting a survey operation at the temporary transit camps on Jan 21, 2015.
“Under the regulations, PGA personnel and officers are not allowed to carry their mobile phones while on duty except with permission from the top officials,” he said. – Bernama
