Wife of missing pastor expresses disappointment with police

KUALA LUMPUR: The wife of missing Pastor Raymond Koh has expressed disappointment towards the police following the abrupt halt to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia’s (Suhakam) public inquiry into his disappearance.

In a statement issued on Wednesday (Jan 17), Susanna Liew said that her family was unaware that part-time driver Lam Chang Nam would be charged under Section 366 for kidnapping or abduction on Monday (Jan 15).

Lam had originally claimed trial to extorting Koh’s son last year.

On Wednesday, Suhakam clarified that it ceased the inquiry into the abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh as it was legally required to do so and not because it “caved in to the police”.

Suhakam commissioner Datuk Mah Weng Kwai cited Section 12(3) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act, which stated that it should “immediately cease” an inquiry if the allegation becomes the subject matter of any court proceeding.

Suhakam had received a letter from Mohamad Fuzi at 3pm on Monday (Jan 15), informing them that Lam had been charged in court in relation to the case.

The inquiry is being held under Section 12(1) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act in connection with the disappearances of Koh, social activist Amri Che Mat, Pastor Joshua Hilmi and his wife, Ruth Sitepu.

The inquiry into the other disappearances would go on as scheduled.

Liew however said that she was grateful that the key witnesses in the case had already testified at the inquiry.

“I hope that the other cases will continue without this kind of disruption or interference so that the truth will get a chance to be aired,” said Liew.

Koh, 62, was abducted by a group of men along Jalan SS4B/10 in Petaling Jaya on Feb 13, 2017 while on his way to a friend's house.

CCTV footage believed to be of the incident showed at least 15 men and three black SUVs involved in the abduction.