A SPECIAL Branch officer, who claimed that a police team was involved in the abduction of activist Amri Che Mat, will testify at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) inquiry today.

Perlis Special Branch Sgt Shamzaini Mohd Daud has been summoned to give his testimony after he allegedly told Amri’s wife, Norhayati Ariffin, that a special team from the federal police headquarters was responsible for the disappearance of Amri and pastor Raymond Koh.

Norhayati subsequently lodged a police report based on this revelation, which led the Suhakam inquiry panel calling her back to the stand.

But the allegation was later nullified when Sentul police chief R. Munusamy informed the panel of a police report lodged by Shamzaini, denying Norhayati’s testimony.

In her testimony, Norhayati said Shamzaini had spoken to her and her daughter, Nur Amira, telling them that the abductions were carried out on the instructions of a senior officer in Bukit Aman Special Branch’s Social Extremism Division (E2).

The inquiry heard the testimonies of both Norhayati and Amira last month.

Amri was allegedly being investigated for forex trading and spreading Shia teaching.

He went missing on November 24, 2016. He was believed to have been abducted by a group of people in four-wheel-drive vehicles which surrounded his car in Kg Padang Behor.

Koh was abducted on February 13 last year by several men in balaclavas who used black SUVs to block his car on a road in Petaling Jaya.

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

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

4.05pm: Gomez asks Shamzaini if divisions like the Social Extremist Divison (E2) share information with his E5 division. 

Shamzaini replies in the positive. 

Gomez asks Shamzaini if, in Forex or Shia cases, would the divisions work together.

Shamzaini says: “I dont know because I have nothing to do with it.”

Gomez then asks Shamzaini if his superiors would know.

Shamzaimi says he doesn’t know. 

Police observer Sentul police chief R. Munusamy interjects to say that the Special Branch does not work together but in silos. 

The inquiry ends and will resume on July 23.

3.45pm: Amri’s family lawyer Jerald Gomez asked Shamzaini what is his role in Bukit Aman.

Shamzaini said he works at the Economy Division (E5), where he does research and studies.

“As a detective I get information relating to economy from the public on cost of living, fuel prices and others.

“We also collect data from the media, prepare a report and it will be sent to my superiors for analysis.”

Gomez asked if the division also investigates forex matters.

Shamzaini said yes, but not under his department.

3.25pm: Mah asks Shamzaini why, if he had never met Norhayati before May 12, did she give him such a hard time. 

Shamzaini says that she was adamant about finding evidence for her husband’s case and that he was not cooperative. 

“She wanted to connect Amri’s case to the police, especially the Special Branch.

“Because I refused to cooperate, there was an argument. 

“She was emotional and kept repeating the same thing. She kept pressuring me to tell her who was involved.” 

3pm: Suhakam officers ask Shamzaini if he contacted Norhayati after their meeting on May 12.

Shamzaini says he did not contact her. 

Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai asks Shamzaini what he felt when he heard about Norhayati’s report.

Shamzaini says he felt restless and angry. 

Mah then asks Shamzaini why he didn’t confront her.

“I thought I might get angry and lose my temper, so I made a report to deny her statement.”

2.55pm: Suhakam officers ask Shamzaini why, if he knew they were located next to each other, he didn’t go to Perlis Hope to get Norhayati’s contact details.

Shamzaini says he didn’t want to interrupt the people there.

Suhakam officers ask Shamzaini if he knows Perlis Hope. 

Shamzaini says that he knows of Perlis Hope. 

Suhakam officers accuse Shamzaini of lying, reminding him of his earlier statement that he didn’t know of Perlis Hope.

Shamzaini disagrees.

“When I went to the shop, it was not open. So I Googled Perlis Hope and got their contact. 

“I then called the number, but there was no answer.” 

2.45pm: Suhakam officers ask Shamzaini how he knows that Parid Audio is renting from Norhayati.

Shamzaini says that he saw the signboard two years ago.

Suhakam officers ask Shamzaini how he knows there is a connection between Parid Audio and Perlis Hope.

Shamzaimi says he guessed so because they were located side by side.

12.15pm: Suhakam officers question Shamzaini on why he spent two hours at Norhayati’s house. 

He says: “She was upset and I was trying to cool her down and convince her not to lodge a police report against me.

“If Norhayati lodges a report, my image will be tainted and my work disrupted.”

Suhakam officers ask Shamzaini if he had told anyone of the meeting between him and Norhayati. 

“I thought there would be no police report and everything was settled,” he replies.

The inquiry takes a break and will resume after Friday prayers. 

12.05pm: Suhakam officers ask Shamzaini if police officers are allowed to do business. 

Shamzaini said officially they are not allowed to carry out business. 

“My superior said I can do business as long as it doesn’t affect my work.

“I have been running a workshop in Perlis for three years.”

11.40am: Shamzaini said on May18 he lodged a report denying everything that Noraini said. 

Suhakam officers ask Shamzaini why did he take two days to lodge a police report as the accusations against him were serious. 

“I didn’t want to be pressured and take my time and lodge the report. I wanted to be at ease.”

Suhakam officers ask him to explain what being pressured meant.

“The pressure I meant was the report was against my job and image as a police officer.”

11.25am: Suhakam officers ask Shamzaini if any investigations were carried out.  

He says that on May 17, his superiors conducted investigations into Norhayati’s report.

“They questioned me and I told them everything that had happened. 

“They also told me not to contact anyone connected to Norhayati.”

11.15am: Shamzaini says Norhayati then began doubting whether he was a police officer.

“She said, ‘I can’t trust that you are police’. 

“I told her that I was not there to kill her and didn’t bring any weapons.”

Shamzaini says he then showed her his police identification card.

“She said that she would make a police report stating that I am also involved (in Amri’s case).”

“I told her to go ahead and that I didn’t care.”

10.45am: Shamzaini says Norhayati started to pressure him by mentioning Razman, Khor and Awaluddin, asking if they were involved in Amri’s disappearance. 

“She then accused me of coming to her house to get information. 

“During the two-hour conversation, she said that she was disappointed with the police.

“I told her that if she was unhappy, then she should lodge a police report. She then said that she didn’t trust the police.” 

10.25am: Shamzaini says that he told Norhayati he was there to ask about renting the shop.

“Her face then changed. She started talking about her financial problems and the difficulties she faced in raising her children. 

“I felt uneasy and wanted to leave. But she to told me to stay as she wanted to talk some more.”

10.10am: Shamzaini says he went to house next to Parid Audio at 9.30pm.

“I rang the bell a few times and then the women I spoke to in the morning opened the door.

“I introduced myself as Sham.

“We then went to the veranda to talk.”

Shamzaini says he then asks “Kak” (Norhayati) about Parid Audio and renting the place.

“Norhayati asked me if I knew Razman (Razali) and Wan (police officers).

“She then asked me about whether I knew anything about her husband’s disappearance. I said I didn’t know.”

Shamzaini says Norhayati then why he didn’t know anything about Amri’s disappearance. 

“Then I said I knew that he had gone missing two years ago.”

9.50am: Shamzaini says he asked the women about Parid Audio and she said the shop has been closed for a while. 

“I then ask if the shop was for rent and she asked to come back at night to discuss it.”

Suhakam officers ask whether he asked the women for her name, to which he replied “no”. 

Suhakam officers ask Shamzaini why he went to Parid Audio.

He said he is a part-time mechanic, so he was looking for a place to set up shop.

9.35am: Perlis Special Branch Sgt Shamzaini Mohd Daud takes the stand.

Suhakam officers ask Shamzani how long he has been with the force, to which he answers 14 years.

Suhakam officers ask Shamzaini if he went to see Amri’s wife, Norhayati Ariffin, on May 12.

Shamzaini says that he went to check out the Parid Audio shop.

“I called (Parid Audio’s owner) at 9am but there was no answer.

“At 9.30am, he called me back. Then, I asked if he does tinting. He said he doesn’t do.”

Shamzaini says that at 10am, he met a women next to Parid Audio. – July 6, 2018.