Lawyer to testify in civil suit by Pastor Koh’s family

PETALING JAYA: A senior lawyer on the special task force on Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat’s disappearance will appear as a witness before the High Court.Datuk Roger Tan Kor Mee will appear before the court on Oct 22 and 23 in a civil suit initiated by Koh’s family.

“I confirm my attendance at the proceedings as a witness as required by the subpoena and will fully cooperate with what is required under the law,” he said in a press statement obtained by The Star yesterday.

Tan said he received a subpoena from the plaintiffs’ solicitors on Oct 7 and affirmed his involvement in the special task force to review the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) report on Koh’s disappearance.

“I understand from media reports that a copy of our report titled ‘Laporan Pasukan Khas bagi Kehilangan Amri Che Mat dan Pastor Raymond Koh’ (Special Task Force Report on the Disappearance of Amri Che Mat and Pastor Raymond Koh), dated March 13, 2020, had been submitted to court,” he said.

Tan added that he has instructed his counsel from Messrs AmerBon to apply to the court to hold a watching brief for him.

Two other members of the special task force – Datuk Abdul Rahim Uda and Datuk Zamri Yahya – were also subpoenaed, but the Attorney General’s Chambers was unable to secure their attendance.

In 2019, Suhakam released a report concluding that Koh and Amri were victims of enforced disappearance by the state, namely the Special Branch of the police force.

The government formed a special task force to publish a report with the findings of its investigations within six months. The report was not released to the public as it was classified.

In August this year, the High Court ordered the government to provide Koh’s wife, Susanna Liew, access to the report.