THE family of Pastor Raymond Koh were taken by surprise today when the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) decided to cease a public inquiry into the pastor’s abduction.

Suhakam called off the hearing after learning that a suspect had been charged with kidnapping Koh yesterday.

Koh’s wife, Susanna Liew, said the family were shocked to hear the announcement made shortly after day 12 of the inquiry into her husband’s disappearance began today.

“It’s very shocking for us as a family as we have no idea that this was going to happen.

“We came to Suhakam to find answers to the many questions we had on Raymond’s abduction.

“We are disappointed that our hope of seeking truth and justice is now is being blocked and denied,” she said after the inquiry ended at the Suhakam office in Kuala Lumpur.

Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai, who heads the inquiry, told the public hearing that the commission had received a letter yesterday that police have apprehended a suspect in Koh’s case on January 12.

“Lam Chang Nam from Taman Sri Ampang, Ipoh, was charged with kidnapping at the Petaling Jaya court yesterday.

“Section 12 (3) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 (Act 597) provides that where, during the pendency of an inquiry into the infringement of the human rights of a person the allegation becomes the subject matter of any proceedings in any court, the  commission shall immediately cease to hold the inquiry. 

“Accordingly, the Panel of Inquiry decided to cease to hold the inquiry until further notice.”

Mah said given the circumstances the panel decided to cease the inquiry until further notice.

“All parties would need time to research the scope or ambit of Section 12 of the Suhakam Act. 

“We will continue with the other two cases of Amri Che Mat and and Pastor Joshua and Ruth Hilmy. 

“The cessation is only on (the) Koh case,” Mah said.

Last March, Lam pleaded trial to another charge of extorting Koh’s son, Jonathan, of RM30,000 in exchange for the release of his father.

Liew said she had hoped that there would be justice, and that the family had faith in the system.

“But I’m afraid that today, this hope has been crushed. I will seek advice from my lawyers on how to proceed.”

Koh family lawyer Gurdial Singh said they were surprised that the inquiry had been aborted due to Lam being charged, when Selangor Criminal Investigation Department chief Fadzil Ahmat had declared that the suspect had nothing to do with the abduction.

“He (Fadzil) is the head of the task force looking into Koh’s abduction, and was the 11th witness in the inquiry.

“He said police investigations showed in March last year that this person was not involved in the abduction.

“Now, as we approach the end of the inquiry, and we still have three crucial witnesses to testify, we have this person (Lam) being charged.

“What is the game plan of police?”

Gurdial said as public officers, police should attend the inquiry as a basic courtesy and abide by any ruling that the commission might make.

“But, police (observers) choose to be absent today.

“So, we did not have the benefit of hearing their take on this turn of events. That is very unfortunate because then, it can be construed by the public, as a matter of perception, that this is a deliberate attempt to derail the concluding end of this inquiry.

“They should shed light on their earlier conclusion that this person (Lam) was not involved.

“It is not good for police to be seen in this light.”

He said they would submit a written note to the commission on what had transpired, and how the commission, in their view, should proceed with the inquiry.

“We will continue with the cases of Amri, Joshua and Ruth, as there is a similar modus operandi. We hope that there will be no surprises in the two inquiries.”

The Suhakam panel aims to determine whether Koh’s abduction, as well as the disappearance of the three others in 2016, are cases of enforced disappearances carried out by the state.

Three witnesses are expected at the hearing today, including former Petaling Jaya councillor Peter Chong, who has been recalled to produce his passports and tickets as evidence of his presence in Thailand.

The panel is also expected to question a police technical officer on closed-circuit television camera and video recordings of the route that Koh’s abductors allegedly took.

An Immigration officer will be questioned to verify evidence given by Liew, who said she and her husband were stopped and questioned by Special Branch nine times at the Johor Immigration checkpoint.

Besides Mah, also on the panel are two other commissioners, Aishah Bidin and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleha. – January 16, 2018.