FORMER inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar will be taking the stand today at the Suhakam public inquiry into the disappearance of activist Amri Che Mat.

Khalid was summoned to testify by Suhakam, which is investigating the case of the Perlis Hope founder who went missing on November 24, 2016.

In May, Amri’s wife Norhayati Ariffin had told the inquiry that Amri had been under police surveillance around the time he was abducted, and Khalid had known about it.

She said this information was relayed to her by a Special Branch officer, identified as Sergeant Shamzaini, who visited her at home in Padang Behor on May 12.

Norhayati had also alleged that Shamzaini had told her Bukit Aman was involved in the abductions of Amri and pastor Raymond Koh.

She said he had told her that Deputy Commissioner Awaluddin (Jadid) and the Perlis police chief also knew that her husband was being monitored over alleged involvement in forex activities and Shia teachings.

A group of men in 4WD vehicles is believed to have abducted Amri in Kg Padang Behor.

Koh was snatched on February 13 last year in Petaling Jaya by several men in balaclavas who had blocked his way with their black SUVs.

Suhakam is conducting a public inquiry into the two missing persons as well as one Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife, Ruth, to ascertain if they are cases of enforced disappearance.

The Malaysian Insight brings you live updates of today’s hearing:

11.30am: Bar Council lawyer Andrew Khoo asks Khalid if it had been the police who had initiated the raid and then asked the religious authorities for their assistance instead..

Khalid replies no. 

The inquiry ends. It will resume on September 3.

11.10am:  Louis moves on to question Khalid on Norhayati’s claim that police were involved in her husband’s abduction.

Louis asks Khalid what he has to say about the claim that he was involved.

Khalid says he denies everything Norhayati said in her report.   

He says Shamzani, Norhayati’s alleged source of the information, had also denied her claims.

Khalid said that a police report should be lodged against her for giving a false statement.

Commissioner Mah Weng Kwai asks Khalid if Shias have infiltrated the police force. 

Khalid replies no.  

Inquiry breaks. 

10.35am: Louis then asks Khalid if he also wrote to the police to inform him of any gathering and development.

Khalid says what he means is that police can take action under the Peaceful Assembly Act. 

Louis then asks Khalid if it were the police and not the religious authorities which acted against the Shia members. 

Khalid says he disagrees. 

Louis asks if any report was lodged for police to act against the Shia followers.

Khalid says he doesn’t know.

Louis then asks Khaild if the raid was carried out based on his instructions in the letter. 

Khalid says, to a certain extent, maybe. 

10.20am: Louis asks Khalid if he wrote instructions on the letter asking police to take action because Shia was prohibited and he had asked them to stop the gathering. 

Khalid agrees that he gave such instructions to the police because Shia is prohibited. 

Louis says, according to the National Fatwa Council, the prohibition has no legal implications.

Khalid says to his understanding, it has legal implications because in Perak, the fatwa has been gazetted. 

10am: Suhakam officers ask Khalid if he knows if any Shia follower has been arrested so far.

Khalid replies no. 

Suhakam officers ask Khalid if he has knowledge of everything the police do in regard to Shia activities in the country.

10.10am: Lawyer for Amri’s family, Larissa Anne Louis asks Khalid if he was aware of a police raid on an alleged Shia gathering in Perak in 2014, and whether he had been privy to a letter from the Perak Shia society to the Prime Minister’s Office requesting permission to host the gathering. 

Khalid said he received the letter and had instructed his officers to take action under the Peaceful Assembly Act. 

He said he had issued such instructions because Shia teachings are forbidden by the National Fatwa Council.

Khalid replies no.

9.45am: Suhakam officers ask Khalid if he had given instructions for Amri to be investigated. 

Khalid says he ordered investigation papers to be opened into Amri but as a case of missing person.

Officers ask Khalid if a task force had been formed to investigate Amri.

Khalid replies no.

Officers ask Khalid if he had given orders for Shia activities in the country to be monitored.

Khalid says police have an understanding with the religious department and he had given instructions to his men to assist the religious officers.

Officers ask him what other help he had given the religious authorities.

Khaild says there is a national fatwa against Shia practices and his instructions to his officers had been for them to assist the religious authorities. 

9.30am: The inquiry resumes with former inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar at the stand.

Suhakam officers ask Khalid if he knew Amri was under police surveillance at the time of his disappearance.

Khalid says he knows of Amri only as a missing person’s case.

Officers ask Khalid whether he was briefed on Amri’s disappearance. 

Khalid says he is periodically briefed on the case status. – August 28, 2018.