Suhakam Claims That The Police Abducted Pastor Koh And Amri Che Mat
"State agents were involved,” Suhakam Commissioner said.
By Sadho Ram — 03 Apr 2019, 01:18 PM
In a public inquiry today, 3 April, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) concluded that social activist Amri Che Mat and pastor Raymond Koh were victims of enforced disappearance
In the public inquiry that lasted a year, Suhakam revealed that police, specifically Bukit Aman's Special Branch, was responsible for the disappearance of the two activists.
"The panel is of the considered view that the enforced disappearance of Amri Che Mat was carried out by agents of the state, namely, the special branch, Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur within the definition of the first limb of Article 2 of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED)," read Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai from the three-member panel's inquiry report.
Suhakam Commissioner Mah Weng Kwai, who is a former Court of Appeal judge, told a packed room this morning that "State agents were involved" and that the panel was unanimous in its findings
"There is direct and circumstantial evidence which proves, on balance of probabilities, that he was abducted by state agents, by Special Branch, Bukit Aman," Suhakam commissioner Mah said about pastor Koh's disappearance.
It was the same conclusion for Amri Che Mat, Commissioner Mad said, adding that it was based on the testimony of Amri's wife Norhayati Mohd Ariffin that a Special Branch officer from Perlis, Sergeant Shamzaini Mohd Daud, had told her on the night of 12 May 2018 that it was the Special Branch in Kuala Lumpur which carried out the abduction.
"The basis for this conclusion also arises from the direct evidence of Syed Amri and Saiful Afdzan (two other witnesses in the inquiry).
"Syed Amri testified that he saw the ‘boxing in’ of a Toyota Fortuner along Jalan Padang Behor while Saiful Afdzan testified that he saw the driver of the Toyota Fortuner being chased by several men in front of his restaurant," he said.
At the inquiry, Amri Che Mat's wife Norhayati Ariffin and their daughter were overcome by tears upon learning of Amri's likely fate
The inquiry, which was held under Section 12(1) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act, was chaired by Mah Weng Kwai along with Prof Dr Aishah Bidin and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh
The police were not present at the announcement of the findings.
Suhakam commissioners (from left) Dr Aishah Bidin, Mah Weng Kwai and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila (right)
Image via The Malaysian Insight