KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia's leader pledged Friday to form a rare high-level panel to investigate the official anti-graft watchdog's interrogation of an opposition party aide who later died mysteriously.
Teoh Beng Hock was found dead on a building roof next to the office of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in July 2009, hours after agency officials questioned him over suspected misuse of state funds by his boss.
The case has pressured Prime Minister Najib Razak to address allegations that police and other authorities use excessive force against suspects during interrogation.
Teoh, 30, was the aide of an opposition state legislator. An inquest into Teoh's death left it unresolved, with the coroner saying Wednesday that there was inadequate proof of suicide or murder.
Najib said a Royal Commission would soon look into the anti-corruption agency's investigation procedures and determine whether there was "any violation of human rights" during the questioning of Teoh.
It would be only the fourth time Malaysia's government has established a Royal Commission in the past 20 years. The commissions are meant to probe issues of great public interest and have wide powers to compel witnesses to provide testimony and to seize documents for evidence.
Opposition leaders nevertheless voiced frustration that the panel would not specifically investigate whether anti-graft officials were responsible for Teoh's death.
Najib said the attorney general would file a court application for the inquest's coroner to revise his ruling, but it was not immediately clear whether that could lead to a new investigation or criminal charges against anyone.
"What is important for us is to know the truth, and the government wants to know the truth. We will do our utmost to find out the truth," Najib told a news conference.
The Royal Commission will comprise "eminent and respected" members, Najib said, promising more details soon.
The anti-graft agency has denied having any direct role in Teoh's death. A reputed Thai forensic expert told the inquest last year that Teoh's death was almost certainly a homicide. Two Malaysian government pathologists, however, testified that he most likely committed suicide.
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