THERE is no hard evidence that Joshua Hilmy insulted Islam in a Facebook post in June 2014, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) public inquiry into the pastor’s disappearance heard today.

Inspector Nurul Huda Bustami, the 12th witness, said in 2014, police reports were lodged in Rembau, Negri Sembilan, against Joshua for insulting the religion.

“We received the reports and started an investigation in June. After four months of collecting information, he was put on the wanted list.

“We then presented a report to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, which classified it as NFA (no further action).”

The first police report was lodged on June 27 that year by Wira Perkasa Chembong chief Salam Sarip, followed by two others.

Nurul Huda said a complainant showed her screenshots to back up his claim.

“He showed one screenshot believed to be of Joshua’s Facebook page.”

She said she then contacted the Bukit Aman cybercrime unit and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

“The cybercrime unit said they couldn’t find anything, and MCMC said they couldn’t find that particular post.”

Suhakam commissioner Madeline Berma asked Nurul Huda: “Did you go on Facebook and verify (the post)?”

The witness said she searched for it on the social media site, but is unable to remember the contents of the post.

Commissioner Hishamuddin Yunus also questioned her on the authenticity of the post.

“So, there is not much proof to link Joshua to the post?”

Nurul Huda said she conducted investigations based on the screenshots received.

Little is known about Joshua and his wife, Ruth, who are suspected to be victims of enforced disappearance. In 2018, two years after the couple went missing, Ruth’s siblings lodged a missing person’s report. Her family are from the fishing village of Nambiki in northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

International human rights laws define 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.

The Suhakam panel is chaired by Hishamuddin, assisted by Madeline and commissioner Jerald Joseph. – September 2, 2020.