Body snatchers: Family of late Muslim convert mulls legal action

The family of Teoh Cheng Cheng, whose body was seized by Penang Islamic Affairs Department (Jaipp) yesterday, wants to take legal action.

It is learnt that Teoh's mother, Tan Mah Suan, and her two sons were in Komtar today to seek legal advice from state executive councillor and Dato Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh.

Jaipp took Teoh's body away, after claiming she was a Muslim convert since 17 years ago,

Accompanying the family was Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Lau Keng Ee as the incident took place in Lebuh Maccalum which is in Lau’s constituency.

Lau accompanied the senior citizen, seen to be in tears, to Jagdeep's office at Level 53 in Komtar.

Teoh, 38, a waitress who reportedly committed suicide on Saturday after a quarrel with her partner, has three children aged 10 to 17.

The family is unhappy with the manner in which Jaipp seized Teoh's body, which was laid in a coffin, and brought it back to the hospital mortuary.

It is learnt that the family had spent about RM20,000 for Teoh's funeral.

Taoist rites

Teoh, whose Muslim name is Nora Teoh Abdullah, was supposed to be cremated according to Taoist rites at the United Hokkien Cemetery in Batu Gantung yesterday.

However state executive councillor Abdul Malik Kassim has denied that the body was seized, saying Jaipp officers had settled the case amicably with the family, after which they allowed the body to be taken to the mortuary.

When contacted Jagdeep confirmed that the family visited him this morning to seek legal advice.

"However, I have referred them to other lawyers as ‎I am not practising law anymore," Jagdeep told Malaysiakini.