Suhakam inquiry closes without eyewitness testimony

KUALA LUMPUR: The Suhakam inquiry into the disappearance of missing activist Amri Che Mat has closed without the testimony of an eyewitness of the alleged abduction.

The panel of inquiry chairman Datuk Mah Weng Kwai said restaurant owner Saiful Afdzan, who witnessed Amri’s alleged abduction, did not appear for the inquiry yesterday although he was served a notice to do so.

Saiful was given three notices to attend previously but wanted to be reimbursed for losses incurred for closing his business.

Mah urged the police to take stern action against him as the integrity and the importance of the panel had been damaged by his refusal to attend the inquiry.

“He is making a mockery of the whole system...The bottom line is he knows of the hearing dates,” said Mah.

Instead, the inquiry on Wednesday was shown a video of Saiful being interviewed by lawyers of Amri’s family.

A Suhakam officer who took Saiful’s statement also gave his testimony on what the latter had said.

Saiful had supposedly witnessed Amri’s alleged abduction from his restaurant with his cousin.

They were at the back of the restaurant, which was closed at the time, but came out when they heard the sound of screeching brakes.

Saiful told the officer that he had seen three pickup trucks boxing another vehicle, with a man trying to run away from the scene.

However, the man was grabbed by one person who then forced him back into his car before all the vehicles moved off.

Saiful, who had never met Amri before, said that the incident was over in less than a minute.

Mah, however, added that the inquiry can be reopened subject to the availability of a potential witness.

He said the panel came up with the unanimous decision to close the proceedings in the interest of time.

“We must get the submissions in order. We need time to go through all the documents and come up with a decision,” Mah said, adding that the panel’s terms as commissioner ends next April.

The inquiry that started on Jan 22 this year has seen 24 witnesses giving their testimony.

Amri, who was the founder of the NGO Perlis Hope, left his home in Kangar at about 11.30pm on Nov 24, 2016, in his SUV.

His car was later found at the construction site of the Bukit Cabang Sports School the following day.

Amri, who was investigated for allegedly spreading Shia teachings, is also a mountain climber. He has taken part in the 1997 Mount Everest Malaysian expedition team.

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

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