THE Human Rights Commission of Malaysia’s (Suhakam) inquiry on missing Perlis activist Amri Che Mat is expected to be concluded today, with the last witness taking the stand.

Saiful Afdzan Seinei, a witness to Amri’s abduction in Perlis, will be giving his testimony.

Saiful, who is also owner of Mak Lang restaurant in Kangar, Perlis, which is opposite the alleged site of Amri’s abduction on the night of November 24, 2016, was subpoenaed by Suhakam to the inquiry last year, but failed to do so, citing that his business will suffer loses if he was to travel to Kuala Lumpur.

Last month, police observers told the inqury that they had contacted Saiful and he had agreed to attend the hearing.

In August, police issued a warrant of arrest for the witness after a representative from the Attorney-General’s Chambers told the inquiry that Saiful was supposed to attend a court hearing at Jalan Duta but did not show up.

Once the last witness testimony is taken, Amri’s lawyers are also expected to prepare submissions that will be heard by the panel chaired by Suhakam comissioner Mah Weng Kwai.

Amri was allegedly being investigated for spreading Shia teachings before he was abducted by a group of people in four-wheel drive vehicles seen surrounding his car in Kampung Padang Behor.

Suhakam is conducting a public inquiry into the disappearance of Amri, Pastor Raymond Koh, Pastor Joshua Hilmy and Joshua’s wife, Ruth, to ascertain if they are cases of enforced disappearance, sanctioned by the state.

The Malaysian Insight brings you live updates of the inquiry. – October 31, 2018.

4.40pm: Mah says as the panel is pressed for time is has decided to close Amri’s case. 

He tells lawyers and observers to prepare their submissions by January 15. 

Mah says there is caveat that any new evidence that surface can be submitted on Amri case. 

4.25pm: The panel calls Suhakam officer Faiz to witness stand. 

Faiz was one of the officers who took Saiful’s statement in Perlis. 

Mah asks Faiz what did Saiful say when they took his statement. 

Faiz says Saiful told him that the incident happened between 11pm and midnight. 

He says Saiful told them he saw three four-wheel drive vehicles stopping. 

Faiz says Saiful said that he also heard the sound of glass shattering and he was with his cousin at the restaurant. 

Saiful said in his statement there was also two motorcyclists and Amri’s vehicle was blocked in. 

Faiz says Saiful told him that all of them were wearing black and the incident took less than a minute.

4.15pm: Mah asks if Saiful said that the incident happened at night.

Sheryll says Saiful did not say so in the video, but told Moy later during an interview with them. 

Munusamy asks Sheryll if they discussed the visibility and the lighting of the mechanic shop where the alleged incident took place at night. 

Sheryll says Saiful told her that the mechanic shop was bright enough to see the vehicles. 

Mah asks did anyone go to the scene at night. 

Sheryll then shows a picture of the lighted up mechanic shop at night

4.05pm: Mah asks Sheryll how did they find out about Saiful.

Sheryll says Amri family friend Faizol  introduce him to the lawyers. 

The panel then watches the 4-minute-30-second video clip.

In the video, Amri family lawyer Jay Moy asks Saiful when did the incident happen and where was he. 

Saiful said that he heard the sound of brakes screeching and went out of his restaurant and saw Amri’s car and three other vehicles blocking his car. 

Moy then asked what had happened and Saiful said that he saw Amri exit his car and tried to run away while the three men also exited their vehicles. 

He said one of the men grabbed Amri as he tried to flee. 

Saiful then said that Amri was pushed into his own vehicle and the three men got into the car and drove off. 

3.35pm: The panel then calls Sheryll to the witness stand. 

Mah asks Sheryll why she recorded the video.

She said she went on a fact-finding trip with Amri family lawyers to speak to witnesses.

She said that she recorded it for their own records. 

Mah asks who else has a copy of the video and Sheryll said the lawyers and Suhakam have it. 

3.25pm:  Mah says the panel feels that Saiful has made mockery of the system by not turning up.

He says the bottom line is that Saiful knows of the hearing dates. 

Mah hopes the police take stern action against Saiful, otherwise the integrity of the panel will be tarnished. 

He says the panel will move to Plan B, which is to watch a video dated November 4, 2017, that was shot by Sheryll Stothard, who is assisting the legal teams of the families of the alleged abductees, on their interview with Saiful on the alleged abduction at Jalan Kampung Behor, Kangar. 

3.15pm: Suhakam officers say that they had tried to contact Saiful on March 16, 19 and 20 but there was no reply.

The officers says he was supposed to attended the hearing on March 20.

Suhakam officers say Saiful was notified three times to attend.

Officers also say they made a police report on March 22. 

Mah asksa when was the first notice was issued.

Officers say the first notice was sent on October 13, 2017. 

Mah says apart from the fact that he was contacted several times, Saiful was aware of all the hearing dates.

Munusamy and Suhakam officers agree that Saiful knew about the hearing dates.

2.55pm: Munusamy says Khor went to Langkawi on October 29 to serve a notice on Saiful but couldn’t locate him. 

Comissioner Mah asks Suhakam officers how many times they had tried to contact Saiful.

Officers say they sent Saiful a notice through registered mail on March 6.

They also say Saiful was sent a WhatsApp message on the notice on March 9. 

A Suhakam officer says that on March 13 Saiful replied and said if he is to come, he will have to close his shop and incur losses of RM4,000.

The officer also says Saiful asked for travelling and lodging costs, which Suhakam had agreed to. 

2.40pm: Police observers tel Suhakam panel that crucial eyewitness Saiful Afdzan Seinei has failed to turn up.

Police observer from the IGP secretariat, Senior Assistant Commissioner R. Munusamy said that on October 7, an Inspector Khor contacted him and said Saiful was willing to come.

Munusamay said on October 27, Khor called him and again said Saiful will attend.

He said Khor tried to contact Saiful on October 29 and 30, but the restaurant owner was not reachable.