AS the public inquiry into the disappearance of Raymond Koh reaches its tail end, lawyers representing the family are seeking two new witnesses without whom, they said, the inquiry will hit a wall.

They said the testimony of the two witnesses is crucial to establish if the state or police had a hand in the pastor’s disappearance.

Lawyer Jerald Gomez, who is representing Koh’s family, said they have asked the Suhakam inquiry panel to subpoena three witnesses but will suffice if a minimum of two can attend the hearing. 

“We need at least two witnesses to show up because we want to cross-examine them and see if their testimonies are consistent and true or whether they will contradict each other.

“If only one witness shows up, then it will be a pointless exercise as he could say whatever he wanted without any way to challenge his evidence,” Gomez told The Malaysian Insight.

The names of the three have been withheld at the request of the Suhakam panel for fear of witness tampering.

The three new witnesses are needed now after the testimony of Federal Criminal Investigation Department deputy director Huzir Mohamed. 

“New evidence had surfaced to prompt us to request for the three new witnesses to be called up.”

Huzir was identified as Bukit Aman’s point person coordinating the police’s joint investigations into the disappearances of Koh and three other activists.

Suhakam officers confirmed they had subpoenaed only one witness and said they will call the rest if the panel needs more information during Koh’s case management. 

Gomez said during the inquiry, several key witnesses failed to turn up when the panel was investigating the disappearance of Koh and Perlis activist Amri Che Mat.

In both cases, police failed to track and secure a key witness, Saiful Bahari, the owner of a gold-coloured Toyota Vios allegedly involved in their disappearance. 

This is even after a personal request from the Suhakam panel to Huzir, who gave his assurance that he will do his best.

In Amri’s case, police also couldn’t secure Saiful Afdzan, the owner of the Mak Lang restaurant in Perlis, who allegedly saw the abduction that occurred across from his eatery.

Last month, the Suhakam panel closed Amri’s case, which started on January 22 this year and where 24 witnesses testified.

The panel is also expected to close Koh’s case after the last testimonies on December 7.

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

Koh was abducted in Petaling Jaya on February 13 last year by about 15 men in three black SUVs.

The abduction was caught on closed-circuit television cameras and in what was described as a well-coordinated operation.

Suhakam is also conducting an inquiry into missing pastor Joshua Hilmy and Joshua’s wife, Ruth, to ascertain if they are cases of enforced disappearance. – November 22, 2018.