Police report was lodged against Koh

Inquiry told that missing pastor was proselytising to youngsters up north

KUALA LUMPUR: A police report claiming Pastor Raymond Koh was proselytising to youngsters up north was made months after his abduction, a public inquiry heard.

It was lodged by a businessman sometime in April after Koh’s abduction on Feb 13. At that time, it was reported that police recorded a statement from two youngsters who claimed they were approached by three men including one believed to be Koh, 63.

One of them told Berita Harian three individuals including Koh, had approached him on Jan 20 at Dataran Kenchor, Kangar, Perlis, and had given him three books on Christianity written in Bahasa Malaysia.

It was also reported in local media that one of the youngsters lodged a police report in Kangar, Perlis, in January.

“The youngsters didn’t make the police report. Their statement was only recorded.

“The news article had some inaccuracies,” investigating officer ASP Supari Muhammad told a Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) inquiry looking into the disappearances of Koh, social activist Amri Che Mat, Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife, Ruth Hilmy.

Instead, the businessman – who is part of a non-government organisation that debates on religion – had lodged the report sometime in April, said Supari.

“The businessman had received information about the pastor from a friend in Singapore and he had also heard about what the two youngsters had claimed about Koh,” said Supari.

When asked why the report was lodged long after Koh’s abduction, Supari said the businessman did not follow the case at first.

Former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had said in March that police were focusing on three angles in probing the case, one being the involvement of extremist groups.

“He (the businessman) was afraid that he’d be thought of as a suspect in Koh’s abduction and so he lodged a report,” said Supari.

Supari answered it was “possible” the report was lodged to change public sentiment – especially among moderate Muslims – on Koh’s abduction by bringing up allegations about him proselytising to Muslims.

Lawyers pointed out many moderate Muslims had joined in candlelight vigils and published public statements condemning Koh’s abduction.

The inquiry also heard that police were unable to obtain CCTV recordings on the exit routes taken by Koh’s abductors as none of the cameras belonging to the traffic police and the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) were working.

Police only has CCTV recordings from two private homes and another from a billboard in Taman Mayang, Petaling Jaya.

Koh was abducted by a group of men along Jalan SS4B/10 in Petaling Jaya on Feb 13 at about 11am while on his way to a friend’s house.

The panel of inquiry includes commissioners Datuk Mah Weng Kwai as chairman, Prof Datuk Dr Aishah Bidin and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh.