A WITNESS told the Malaysian Human Rights Commission inquiry today that she had met missing pastors Raymond Koh and Joshua Hilmy to get cured from “evil spirits”.

Former lecturer Fadzlina Amran said that she was introduced to Koh and Joshua in the hope of getting cured from her ailment.

She said she vomited a nail and glass shards  and had experienced hysteria since she was young.

“I went to many ustaz but my problems were still there. We used to experience paranormal incidents where someone kept knocking at the door but no one was there.

“There were also incidents where teacups flew and my husband looked possessed.

“At this point, I was trying anything to get rid of the demons,” she told the Suhakam inquiry today. 

Yesterday, her husband Iqbal Mirza Mohd Jalaluddin said they were introduced to Joshua by a friend in January 2015.

Fadzlina said she and her husband went to see both pastors but were unknowingly baptised by Joshua.

“I was bathed by Ruth Sitepu (Joshua’s wife) while my husband was bathed by Joshua. We were both clothed.

“He uttered some holy words and then we were done.”

Suhakam Commissioner Hishamuddin Yunus asked why she went to see Joshua.

Fadzlina said she heard from some people that the pastor can help her cure her problems. 

The Suhakam officer then asked her if she knew the meaning of the word “baptise”. 

She said she knew it was a “Christian word”.

“But, we went there for healing, that’s two different things,” she added.

Fadzlina said she and her husband had met Koh through a friend from Harapan Community, which was run by the pastor.

“We met Koh in late 2015 or early 2016. He then bathed us and our two children and about four to five people in a pool at his friend’s house near the Curve.”

She said the last time she saw Koh was when he and his wife came and visited them one week after the bathing ritual.

Hishamudin asked if she had recovered after the bathing rituals, to which Fadzlina said she still experienced disturbances from spirits.

“We are not blaming anyone (for not getting cured). We are just striving to get cured.

“We went there sincerely hoping to get cured.”

Commissioner Jerald Joseph asked if she got upset that she wasn’t cured.

She said they were not upset and continued to look at all avenues to get cured.

Fadzlina also told the inquiry that she had also experienced a bathing ritual in 2014 with another pastor who she could only recall as Viktor. 

The inquiry was then told that Viktor has since passed away.

The inquiry is held to discover what had happened to Joshua and Ruth, who are suspected to be victims of an enforced disappearance. 

In 2018, two years after their disappearance, Ruth’s siblings lodged a missing persons report. 

Ruth’s family hails 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 commissioner Hishamudin, and assisted by commissioners Joseph and Madeline Berma. 

The inquiry continues on Monday. – January 6, 2020.