ANY findings by the special task force on the disappearance of Amri Che Mat could be relevant as the report is material to the civil suit his family filed, the family’s lawyer said.

Surendra Ananth said the civil suit was over police failure to investigate the alleged abduction. 

“This is the same issue Suhakam (Human Rights Commission of Malaysia) had found in their report. 

“This task force was set up to look into the findings made by Suhakam, which include how police failed to effectively investigate the alleged abduction of Amri. This is the same issue in the civil suit. 

“So, any findings by the task force would be relevant to the civil suit,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

On Tuesday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered the release of a classified special task force report on Amri, which will help his family proceed with the civil trial.

Justice Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh said Amri’s wife Norhayati Ariffin will be allowed to share the report only with her lawyers.

Norhayati said with this crucial evidence she hoped there will be some closure in the missing activist’s case.

She had also been advised that the government has been instructed to hand over the report to her and her legal team within 30 days.

“This report has yet to be disclosed to me. The government has also not informed me when I can expect to receive the report from them.”

Surendra said the authorities have been given 30 days to present the report.

But his team is unsure when they will get it.

“It is within 30 days from the date of the decision. We do not know exactly when, but the government has 30 days to disclose it. 

“We believe the report should be coming from the Attorney-General Chambers, since it is representing the government.

“Following the court order, we should get it before the civil suit, which commences on June 19.”

Norhayati filed a civil suit against 21 parties, including the government and police, in 2019.

Amri, who founded civil society group Perlis Hope, went missing on November 24, 2016.

He was abducted near his home at Padang Behor in Kangar. Police later found his car at Bukit Chabang.

In her police report, Norhayati said there were unknown cars and motorcycles parked near their home the day Amri went missing.

Between 2017 and 2019, Suhakam held a public inquiry into Amri’s disappearance.

In 2021, Suhakam concluded Amri was a victim of an enforced disappearance carried out by the state, specifically by the police Special Branch.

In response, the Home Ministry established a task force to look into Suhakam’s conclusions. It was given six months to complete its report.

Since then, neither the ministry nor the task force has released a report, despite repeated calls to do so by various parties, including Suhakam and civil society groups. – May 13, 2023.