KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) is appealing the High Court's decisions in the cases of activist Amri Che Mat and pastor Raymond Koh, two men who went missing in 2016 and 2017.
In a statement on Thursday (Nov 6), the AGC said it will file an appeal in both cases.
"After reviewing and considering the decision of the honourable judge, this department will file an appeal at the Court of Appeal against the entirety of the decision," it said.
On Wednesday (Nov 5), High Court judge Justice Su Tiang Joo ruled that the police and the government were to be held liable in the disappearances of the men.
In his separate judgments, Justice Su awarded RM3mil to Amri’s wife, Norhayati Mohd Ariffin, and RM31mil to Koh’s family, citing among others, police involvement, wrongful case classifications and failures to conduct effective investigations.
Both men went missing within months of each other – Amri in Perlis in November 2016 and Koh in Petaling Jaya in February 2017.
The cases sparked nationwide concern over alleged enforced disappearances.
Norhayati had filed the lawsuit to seek damages for the loss she suffered.
Amri was allegedly abducted in Perlis close to midnight on Nov 24, 2016.
The vehicle he used was subsequently found in an abandoned construction site at Bukit Chabang, Perlis, at around 12.30am the next day.
On Feb 11, 2020, Koh’s wife Susanna Liew filed the civil suit against 13 defendants including the government over his disappearance.
Koh, who founded the NGO Harapan Komuniti, was abducted by a group of armed men along Jalan SS4B/10 in Petaling Jaya while on his way to a friend’s house.
CCTV footage, believed to be of the incident, showed at least 15 men in tactical gear and three black SUVs involved in the abduction, which was done in a “professional” style.
