Special Branch snatched Koh, Amri, Suhakam inquiry concludes

Noel Achariam Ragananthini Vethasalam Noel Achariam, Ragananthini Vethasalam Updated 5 years ago · Published on 3 Apr 2019 10:39AM · 6 Comments

Amri Che Mat's wife Norhayati Ariffin embraces her daughter as both are overcome by tears upon learning of Amri’s likely fate, at the Suhakam office in Kuala Lumpur, in April 3, 2019. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, April 3, 2019.

POLICE were responsible for the disappearance of two activists more than three years ago, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) revealed today at the conclusion of a public inquiry that lasted a year.

Pastor Raymond Koh and Perlis Hope Founder Amri Che Mat were snatched by Special Branch teams from federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman, never to be found again, said Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai.

“State agents were involved,” he told a packed room this morning.

The inquiry panel was unanimous in its findings, he said.

An inquiry was established last year to ascertain if Koh, Amri and two others – Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife, Ruth – were victims of enforced disappearance.

International human rights law defines forced disappearance or enforced disappearance as when a person is secretly abducted or imprisoned by a state or political organisation, or by a third party with the authorisation, support or acquiescence of a state or political organisation.

Suhakam commissioners (from left) Dr Aishah Bidin, Mah Weng Kwai and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila (right) file in to deliver the verdict on vanished persons Pastor Raymond Koh and Perlis activist Amri Che Mat, at the Suhakam office in Kuala Lumpur, today. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussein, April 3, 2019.

The public inquiry had heard that a police report was lodged against Koh, months after his abduction, for allegedly proselytising to young people up north.

The report was lodged by a businessman sometime in April 2017 after Koh’s abduction on February 13. At the time, it was reported that police recorded a statement from two youngsters who claimed they were approached by three men, one of whom was believed to be Koh.

Activist Amri, meanwhile, was under police surveillance over alleged Shia links

Mah said the panel is of the view that Amri and Koh were kidnapped by agents of the state, namely Special Branch, Bukit Aman.

He said the basis of the conclusion lay in  Norhayathi’s testimony of what she was told by a police officer, Sergeant Shamzaini on May 12, 2018.

“The conclusion (is also drawn) on the refusal of the state, namely the police, to acknowledge the enforced disappearance and is supported by the fact the police have refused to reclassify Amris case as enforced disappearance.”

Mah said during the course of the inquiry several complaints were raised against the police.

“The apparent lack of cooperation, suppression and concealment of evidence by the police were evident during the course of the hearings.”

Missing activist Amri Che Mat's wife, Norhayati Ariffin (right) holds hands with Susanna Liew, both weeping as Suhakam delivers its grim conclusions at the end of a year-long inquiry into the disappearance of Amri and Liew’s husband, Pastor Raymond Koh. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussein, April 3, 2019.

As for Special Branch, Mah said during the inquiry the lawyers had raised concerns on its role and function.

“The police recognised that there appears to be no legal provisions dealing with its functions, power and duties.

“The panel recommends that Special Branch be made accountable and its powers and responsibilities to be spelt out in law to avoid abuse of power, to further scrutinise the agency and to increase its accountability.”

He said freedom of religion was a fundamental human right and it was vital that the state and its agents including the police and state religious authorities recognise and respect that right.

Mah said the police must now investigate the inquiry’s findings and apprehend those responsible.

“An experienced investigating officer should be appointed. Therefore the panel recommends a special task force be set up to re-open and re-investigate Amri’s case.

“The task force should comprise independent investigators appointed by the attorney-general.” – April 3, 2019.

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Comments

  • It happen in Perlis and we know who is in charge of PDRM and Religious Institution to instruct state agen to act. Why the delay to act on them ???

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • The abduction was carried out with impunity as if the rule of law doesn't exist. The sad thing is the state and security agencies appear unwilling to investigate it thoroughly. This is disturbing because it shows the agency concerned are unwilling to root out rogue elements among their own. More disturbing is the fact this can recur in future without recourse of the victim's family and it can happen to anyone on the street. The fact it was done during the tenure of the previous BN administrator should prompt the government of the day to actively pursue the investigation into Amri's diappearance so that his family can find closure to this troubling crime.

    Posted 5 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • Time for the PH government to act on the rogue policemen and the ring leader. Dont bank on the current the IGP to do his job. He is bloody hopeless and incompetent.

    Posted 5 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • If this is true, the next question is, what happened to them? Where are they now?

    Posted 5 years ago by Léon Moch · Reply

  • so what's next?? the end of it? nothing can be done? who are these jokers??

    Posted 5 years ago by Wen Chiuan Woo · Reply

  • This is outrageous. The police force just became an organisation of thugs, doing the bidding of a courrupt and unethical BN Goverment. the current government must act on this.

    Posted 5 years ago by Sunita petrus · Reply