OBSERVERS from the Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (Caged) have been attending the ongoing public inquiry by Suhakam into the disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh, Amri Che Mat, Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife, Ruth Sitepu.

We have been inspired by the way the panel has conducted the inquiry so far, resulting in much information been drawn out of the witnesses.

But yesterday, on the 12th day of the inquiry, we were shocked to be informed by Commissioner Mah Weng Kwai that the inquiry into Pastor Raymond Koh’s case will cease until further notice.

The decision was the Inquiry Panel’s response to a letter from Inspector-General of Police Mohd Fuzi Harun to the Suhakam chairman on the day before the 12th day of the Inquiry.

In the letter, the IGP informed Suhakam that the Police have charged a person with the kidnapping of Pastor Raymond Koh and that Section 12(3) of the Suhakam Act 1999 states that 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 do the inquiry.

The person charged for kidnapping Pastor Raymond Koh is Lam Chang Nam, said to be a part-time Uber driver. Last March, Lam was charged with trying to extort RM30,000 from Pastor Koh’s son, Jonathan Koh.

We, together with all sane citizens, are bewildered by this latest development, for the following questions beg for sane answers:

• Why was Lam arrested and charged with the kidnapping of Koh after almost a year since he was first arrested for attempting to extort money from the Koh family?
• As recently as November 2017, SAC Fadzil Ahmat, the head of the taskforce setup to investigate Koh’s abduction, stated under oath that Lam had nothing to do with Koh’s abduction. What new evidence has surfaced since to implicate Lam? Or was Fadzil careless or clueless when he provided evidence to the Inquiry?
• Since the police classified the abduction of Pastor Koh as a high-profile case, with public and international interest in the outcome of the investigations, why didn’t the police issue a press release to inform the public that a suspect has been arrested and would be charged on January 15?
• The timing of the charge against Lam for kidnapping, on the eve of the 12th hearing day, just before an additional three police witnesses were to be called to assist the inquiry to establish truth and justice, also raises questions. Are the police trying to hide the truth?
• As revealed in the charge sheet which was provided to Suhakam and read out by chairman Mah, the Police now say Lam and “seven others still at large”, committed the kidnapping. Where did this information come from? What is Lam’s role in this supposed “team of eight” when the video of the abduction – admitted by the Police as reliable evidence – shows a team of about 14 persons who executed the abduction with military precision? Isn’t it much more likely that Lam is a convenient scapegoat?

In short, the arrest and charge against Lam for kidnapping Koh is both shocking, illogical and begs belief.

The citation of Section 12(3) of the Suhakam Act in the letter of notification by the IGP clearly shows the intent is to derail the Suhakam Public Inquiry – an inquiry which in the opinion of Caged, has revealed a vast array of shortcomings in the police investigation, a lack of cooperation with the inquiry and inconsistencies in the narratives offered by the various police witnesses.

The big question to ask is “Why?”

Why would the police be less than forthcoming in assisting Suhakam to uncover the truth about Pastor Koh and why the seeming eagerness to stop the public inquiry? Do they already know who abducted Pastor Koh?

This issue of the disappearances of Pastor Koh and the others is not just a matter of importance to the families of the victims. At stake is the reputation of the Royal Malaysian Police force, a force that is highly respected for its competency in crime-solving and its ability to protect us as citizens.

The disappearances of these social workers and the inability of the police to solve these crimes for over a year, and now, the seeming eagerness to scuttle the Suhakam inquiry, is eroding the citizens’ trust and confidence in the police.

We call on the police to act with greater transparency and professionalism so that the truth will be revealed, and justice served.

If the IGP and the attorney-general genuinely believe they have evidence sufficient to convict Lam on the charge of kidnapping, we call upon them to take steps to expedite the hearing of the case against Lam.

If they do not do so, we will be further be convinced that the charge of kidnapping against Lam is a fabrication designed to derail Suhakam, a fabrication which will fail to meet the level of proof required to convict him in court.

This would further reinforce the views of many that Pastor Raymond Koh and the others are victims of enforced disappearances, that is, the state is directly or indirectly involved in their disappearances. – January 17, 2018.

* This statement was released by the committee of Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (Caged).

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.