AFTER more than a year of public hearings, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has ended its inquiry into the disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh, with no light shed as to his whereabouts or those behind his abduction.

Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai said the inquiry was formally closed today, after hearing testimonies from 16 witnesses.

He said submissions will be heard on January 15 next year, with replies to the submissions to be heard on January 31.

Koh’s wife, Susanna Liew, expressed relief at the inquiry’s end, saying it has been a long and tiring process for the family since the public hearings began on October 19 last year.

“We hope the truth will prevail. We still have hope that Koh and the rest (three others missing) will be released, and the culprits brought to justice,” she said after today’s hearing.

She said she hopes the Pakatan Harapan government will continue efforts to get to the bottom of her husband’s disappearance, even though the incident took place when Barisan Nasional was in power.

“We hope they will take action without fear or favour, and that there will be a resolution soon. 

“It has been almost two years, and we are grateful to the panel for upholding human rights and giving them (missing four) a public hearing.”

Koh was abducted while he was driving in Petaling Jaya on February 13 last year by about 15 men in three black SUVs. The abduction, which was caught on closed-circuit television cameras, has been described as a well-coordinated operation.

The others missing, who are also the subjects of Suhakam’s inquiry, are activist Amri Che Mat, Pastor Joshua Hilmy, and Joshua’s wife, Ruth.

The objective of the inquiry is to ascertain if they are cases of enforced disappearance. – December 7, 2018.