Former deputy prime minister and home minister in charge of the police, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has distanced himself from the mysterious disappearance of activist Amri Che Mt and pastor Raymond Koh, following findings by Suhakam that the duo had been abducted by the police’s Special Branch.
While reading out the findings of the Suhakam inquiry yesterday into the disappearance of Amri Che Mat, Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai said that the perpetrators of Amri’s abduction were members of the Special Branch.
Pastor Raymond Koh is believed to be also a victim of enforced disappearance with circumstantial evidence pointing to Bukit Aman as the culprit.
Mah said an inquiry panel looking into Amri’s disappearance came up with the unanimous conclusion after lengthy discussions.
“The direct and circumstantial evidence in Amri Che Mat’s case proves, on balance of probabilities, that he was abducted by state agents, namely, the special branch, Bukit Aman,” he said on Wednesday (April 3).
Amri, an alleged Syiah Islam adherent and proselytiser, and Koh, a Christian pastor accused of proselytising to Muslims, were monitored by religious authorities prior to their disappearance.
The three-member Suhakam panel also noted “uncanny similarities” in the modus operandi of both abductions – such as their cars being boxed in by three four-wheel drive vehicles and the presence of persons in dark clothing.
Mah said the panel had solid grounds to suspect police involvement based on the testimony of several witnesses, including Amri’s wife, Norhayati Mohd Ariffin.
She told the inquiry late last year that a Special Branch officer had informed her that Amri and Koh’s abductions were carried out by the intelligence unit.
Suhakam said police’s refusal to acknowledge and reclassify Koh’s case from abduction to enforced disappearance also prompted the panel to suspect foul play.
The panel recommended an independent taskforce to be established to reinvestigate both cases, the separation of powers between the police and religious authorities, and reforming the police’s standard operating procedures (SOP).
Calls have also been made for Inspector General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun to be investigated for his alleged complicity in covering up the cases, and that he either be removed or asked to resign.
Meanwhile, former top cop Musa Hassan alleged that Special Branch officers are not trained for hostile engagement, casting doubt on claims that the police intelligence unit was behind Amri and Koh’s disappearances.
He said Special Branch personnel are trained primarily for surveillance, making them ill-equipped to plan and carry out abductions.
“No, they are not trained for that,” he was quoted as replying to the Malay Mail.
Amri was abducted in late 2016 while Koh was taken in early 2017.
The inquiry, which ran for more than one year, had called nearly 60 witnesses to testify.
Gurdial Singh Nijar, who said he was also speaking on behalf of Amri’s family, said abductions of such nature should not occur in a civilised society.
“There must be repercussions. The authorities must take immediate action and identify the officers involved,” he said.
He said the whole inquiry would be left “hanging” if Suhakam’s allegations were not answered.
“There have been inquiries before where there was no follow-up action, but this is too serious a case not to do anything about it.”
Former home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was in office when Amri and Koh went missing, said he had never ordered police to act against the duo.
The police are under the purview of the Home Ministry.
Then inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar had also denied suggestions that police were involved in Koh’s abduction, dismissing them as conspiracy theories.
Suhakam set up the inquiry last year to ascertain if Amri, Koh and two others – Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife, Ruth – were victims of enforced disappearance.
International human rights law defines forced disappearance or enforced disappearance as when a person is secretly abducted or imprisoned by a state or political organisation, or by a third party with the authorisation, support or acquiescence of a state or political organisation.
Suhakam will officially announce its conclusion on Koh later.