THE investigating officer assigned to the case involving the disappearance of missing activist Amri Che Mat, who was expected to testify at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) public inquiry today, was not in attendance.

Inspector Khor Yi Shuen from the Kangar district police headquarters in Perlis, who was expected to give evidence on what were his initial findings in the case, will take the stand only on April 2, as he is attending a course today.

Amri, who was also the founder of civil society group, Perlis Hope, disappeared in November 2016. His wife, Norhayati Ariffin, lodged a missing person report on November 25, 2016.

On March 7, 2017, Amri’s friend, Annuar Ismail sent a note to Khor asking for an update on the case, and was told that Khor had been ordered to hand over the case to Bukit Aman.

Norhayati said she was duly informed of the development by Annuar.

In her testimony earlier, Norhayati said she went to Bukit Aman in April last year to ask about the case but was told by officers there that no report of Amri’s disappearance had been received.

A witness scheduled to take the stand today is JST Auto car workshop owner Vee Yak, who told police he saw several vehicles parked near Amri’s house a few days before he went missing.

Yesterday, restaurant operator Syed Amri Syed Abdul Jalil, who claimed he witnessed Amri’s abduction, told the inquiry that police only recorded his statement in January this year – more than a year after the disappearance was reported.

Syed Amri said he saw Amri’s Toyota Fortuner being stopped by three four-wheel-drive vehicles and two sedans.

Amri, 43, was abducted some 550m from his home in Padang Behor, Kangar in Perlis. Police later found his car in Bukit Chabang. He has four daughters, aged between 10 and 19.

The inquiry is chaired by Suhakam commissioners Mah Weng Kwai, Aishah Bidin and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh.

The panel aims to determine whether Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri’s abduction, as well as the disappearance of two others – Joshua and Ruth Hilmy – in 2016, are cases of enforced disappearance sanctioned by the state.

The Malaysian Insight brings you live updates of today’s proceedings.

12.25pm: Lawyer Jay asked Vee whether he knows if it is common for police to ask people to sign blank pieces of paper.

Commissioner Mah interjected, saying such questions should be left to police to answer.

Mah asked Vee if what was recorded by police and the statement he gave is true.

Vee said it is true.

The inquiry ends and will resume on April 2.

12.15pm: Commissioner Mah asked for clarification on the timeline of the report.

Vee told Mah that he had signed the blank paper on October 16 last year.

“On November 4, 2017, I went with my lawyer, K. Muthiah, to the Kangar station.

“Then, Inspector Khor showed me a signed statement.

“I brought a lawyer because my Bahasa Malaysia is not good, and I needed someone to explain the statement me.”

11.55am: Police observer Sentul police chief R. Munusamy asked Vee several questions about the blank paper he had signed.

Munusamy said what he had signed was a prepared report, and not a blank piece of paper.

He showed a report, complete with Vee’s statement and signature.

Munusamy asked Vee if it is his signature on the report, to which Vee replied, yes.

Vee said he disagrees with Munusamy, and that he had signed a blank piece of paper.

11.35am: Commissioner Mah asked if the person had shown any identification, to which Vee said, no.

He told the inquiry that the person was Malay.

Mah asked if Vee had asked the police officer where he was from.

Vee said the person told him that he was from Kangar.

11.20am: Vee told the inquiry that one month after the incident, a plainclothes police officer came to his workshop.

“He introduced himself as police, and then recorded my statement using a phone.”

Vee said the person did not take any written statements.

Lawyer Jay asked if the police officer had said his name, to which he replied, no.

10.55am: To establish the distance between the vehicles and the workshop, Amri family lawyer Jay Moi played a short video showing the area.

Vee was asked to point out the location of the vehicles.

He said the Vios and Civic were parked on the opposite side of the road from his workshop, and the Hilux was parked in front of the workshop.

Lawyer Jay asked if Vee can confirm that he could not see anyone in the vehicles.

Vee said all three vehicles had tinted windows, and he could only see shadows in the cars.

He said only the Hilux was parked from late evening till midnight.

10.45am: Vee told the inquiry that he had recorded the number plate of the gold Vios.

He said it was PFC 1623.

Commissioner Mah asked him why he took down the number plate.

Vee said he had never seen the car before, and took down the number plate because he felt suspicious.

“The car was parked for three days (before Amri went missing).”

Mah asked if he had approached the three vehicles, or spoke to anyone in the cars.

Vee replied, no.

Mah asked if he had lodged any police reports, to which he replied, no.

10.25am: Commissioner Mah asked if Vee had lodged any police reports, and how many times he had gone to the Kangar station.

Vee said he was called twice to the station.

“The first time I went to the station was in November 2017. I was told to sign a blank paper.

“One month later, I was asked to come back and the statement was ready.”

10am: Vee told the inquiry that a few days before Amri went missing, there were three vehicles parked in front of his workshop from morning to late afternoon.

He said the cars had tinted windows, and their engines were running.

Vee said the vehicles were a black Toyota Hilux, gold Toyota Vios and white Honda Civic.

He said he could not see the people in the cars.

9.55am: Inspector Khor will not be testifying today as he is attending a course.

According to police observers, he is expected to attend the inquiry on April 2.

The inquiry called JST Auto car workshop owner Vee to take the witness stand.

Suhakam officers asked Vee how he found out about Amri’s disappearance, and if he knows the activist.

Vee said he found out about Amri’s disappearance from Anuar Ismail, who is Amri’s friend.

“Amri is my customer, and he used to frequent my workshop.” – March 21, 2018.