KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has allowed the Govt application to stay the RM31mil in damages awarded to Pastor Raymond Koh, who remains missing since 2017. Justice Mahazan Mat Taib, in her decision, said the defendant had established special circumstances for it to stay the payment.
The judge acknowledged that Koh remains missing and if the payment were to proceed, he would not be able to receive the damages awarded at this stage by virtue of the express terms of the judgment itself.
"The monies would be immobilised in a trust account, pending the outcome of the appeal, or settlement of the first plaintiffs whereabouts. The plaintiff therefore do not stand to enjoy useful benefit from the damages awarded," she said here on Monday (Jan 26).
The court was also satisfied that no material prejudice has been demonstrated on the part of the plaintiff if a stay was granted. Justice Mahazan said the court took into account all relevant circumstances bearing on the enforcement of the judgment including practicality and reversibility.
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"A refusal of stay would expose the defendants to irreversible administrative and financial consequences notwithstanding the judgment is currently under appeal. Accordingly, the application for a stay and the consequential order is allowed pending the disposal of the appeal," she added.
On Nov 5, 2025, the High Court ordered the Govt and the police to pay RM31mil in damages to the family of Koh over their involvement in his abduction in 2017. The court ordered the Govt to pay RM10,000 per day to the family of Koh from the date of his disappearance on Feb 13, 2017 until he is found.
On Feb 11, 2020, the wife of Koh, Susanna Liew, filed the civil suit against 13 defendants including the Govt 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 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 in tactical gear and three black SUVs involved in the abduction, which was done in a "professional" style.
