CITIZENS Against Enforced Disappearances (Caged) wants the police to review standard operating procedures (SOP) for missing persons investigations.

The call comes after the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) determined the authorities did not take the case of missing Pastor Joshua Hilmy and wife Ruth Sitepu seriously.

Caged also called for police reform, specifically with regards to missing persons inquiries.

Caged spokesperson Rama Ramanathan said the Suhakam findings had revealed the police failures over the disappearance of the couple.

“The report revealed failures in prioritisation of cases, highly unprofessional conduct, and sheer belligerent leadership.

“The plan (now for the police) should include support for a truly independent oversight body,” he said.

Last Friday, Suhakan concluded that Joshua and his Indonesian wife Ruth were victims of enforced disappearance.

However, the public inquiry chief commissioner Hishamudin Yunus said it could find no evidence that state agents were involved in their disappearance.

He said the panel also concluded that the authorities had failed to thoroughly investigate the case.

“The panel is of the view there was lack of seriousness (and failure to recognise) the severity of the case by referring to it just a normal missing persons case.

“(There was a) lack of co-ordination by the police and it was not seriously and efficiently supervised by the management in the police force.”

Hishamudin said the police need to strengthen and improvise their SOPs relating to the investigations of missing persons, abductions and disappearances.

“As the police investigation on the disappearances of Joshua and Ruth are still ongoing, it is our recommendation the police seriously step up its investigation, taking into account criticisms and recommendations, such as that the police investigation paper be shared with other bodies with investigative powers to enhance forensic investigations.”

Joshua and Ruth’s disappearance was reported by their friend Peter Pormannan, who had known the couple since 2012.

He lodged a police report on March 6, 2017, after not hearing from Joshua for months.

Ruth’s family also came to Malaysia to lodge an official missing persons report on February 28, 2018.

More than one year later, police said there were simply no leads.

The disappearances of Ruth and Joshua, pastor Raymond Koh, and Perlis activist Amri Che Mat remain Malaysia’s three most high-profile missing persons cases. – April 19, 2022.