A distraught mother is still waiting for answers from Taiping police over the death of her son in mysterious circumstances almost two years ago.

Tan Geok Ee, 47, alleged that her son Law Boon Hua was assaulted by a policeman at a road block and died of his injuries on July 17, 2005.

She claimed that she only found out about the incident when she called his handphone to check whether he had arrived at his girlfriend's house.

A nurse answered the phone, saying that Law, 23, was in serious condition and that she should go to the Taiping hospital as soon as possible.

"When I arrived, he was unconscious. The doctor told me that my son had a 50-50 chance of survival," she said, speaking in Hokkien in a phone interview.

"The doctor showed me on the computer that my son had five to six holes at the back of his head. He died a few hours later - the doctor said it was because of the head injuries."

She said the two police officers who had taken her son to the hospital told her that he had crashed his motorcycle in fear at the road block as he did not have a licence.

Tan said she lodged a police report on the day of her son's funeral.

She placed an advertisement in the newspapers seeking eyewitnesses. Ng Chit Khoon, 28, responded and they then made a police report together.

According to Ng, the incident happened about 11pm along a back lane.

"I was stopped at a road block where there were no proper signage. He (Law) passed on my left without stopping," said Ng.

"The police officer standing on my right, who was not in uniform, threw a torchlight which hit him on the helmet."

He said Law then rode off in a wobbly manner, hit a drain and fell into it with the motorcycle.

"He didn't move, but I saw the police going up to him. I left the place," Ng added.

Delay 'unfair'

Over the last two years, Tan has sought the help of three political parties. She first highlighted her case to Pokok Assam assemblyperson Ho Cheng Wang, after which she approached the DAP last year.

She next took her case to the Taiping Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), which called a press conference in Taiping on June 5 to highlight her plight.

Youth vice-chief Tan Seng Toh said the delay in investigations is unfair to the mother, saying "it is definitely a cover up and a clear-cut mistake on the part of the police".

He said that, if there is still no response by the end of this month, PKR would bring up the issue with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia.

A lawyer for DAP, Saranjit Singh - who has been handling the case - said he is uncertain if an inquest was carried out.

"I've written to the Attorney-General's Chambers to ask whether this was done," he said.

He further said he had requested copies of the relevant documents from the police on June 15, 2006 but has yet to receive them.

Saranjit added that he needs both the documents and a reply from the AG's Chambers before he can file a case in court.

Ho, a MCA leader, could not be reached for comment as he is currently abroad.

When contacted, a senior traffic police officer identified only as Harmun said the investigation papers had been sent to the public prosecutor's office in Ipoh. Pressed for details, he declined to comment.