AN eyewitness who saw activist Amri Che Mat’s alleged abduction in November 2016 said police only officially recorded his statement on the incident in January this year, an inquiry into missing persons heard today.

Restaurant operator Syed Amri Syed Abdul Jalil told the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) inquiry that he first met police a day after he witnessed the incident on November 25, 2016.

“The next day, two police officers came to my shop and I told them what had happened.

“We had a verbal conversation. It was after a week then that Inspector Shakirin from IPD Kangar came to the restaurant.

“We spoke and then we went and visited the site of the incident.”

Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai then asked if Syed Amri had signed any statement from the police.

Syed Amri said the only official statement he signed was in January this year.

“I was called to IPD Kangar by Inspector Khor Yi Shuen. He recorded my statement on the incident and I signed it.

“Between 2016 and 2018, there was no communication with the police,” he said.

After Suhakam observers and lawyers representing Amri’s family had questioned the witness, Mah then asked if police and Bar Council observers had any question for Syed Amri.

Police observer Sentul police chief R. Munusamy then replied that they had no questions and so did lawyers from the Bar Council.

Mah said he was very surprised.

“Given that this (Syed Amri) is an important eyewitness in the case, (if there) are no questions, all that has been said is accepted (by all observers),” he said.

Earlier, the inquiry heard that Syed Amri had witnessed Amri’s Toyota Fortuner being stopped by three four-wheel-drive vehicles and two sedans.

Syed Amri said that he was returning from the gym at 12.30am and had stopped at the traffic light in Padang Behor, where he witnessed the incident.

“I was on a motorcycle when I saw the four-wheel drive and other cars.

“They boxed in the Toyota Fortuner, and then a burly, tall man from the vehicle in front got down and proceeded to open the door of the Toyota,” he said.

Syed Azmi then told the inquiry that he didn’t stop and headed home.

“When I went back home I relayed the incident to my father. It was only the next day I found out that Amri had gone missing from the gas (supplier) who came to our restaurant.”

Amri, 43, was abducted 550m from his home in Padang Behor, Kangar in Perlis in late 2016. Police later found his car in Bukit Chabang. He has four daughters, aged between 10 and 19.

The inquiry is chaired by Suhakam commissioners Mah, Aishah Bidin and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh.

The panel aims to determine whether Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri’s abduction, as well as the disappearance of two others – Joshua and Ruth Hilmy – in 2016, are cases of enforced disappearance sanctioned by the state. – March 20, 2018.