New witness to testify in missing pastor inquiry

KUALA LUMPUR: A new witness will be called in to testify at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) inquiry into the disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh when it resumes on Dec 7.

Suhakam complaints and monitoring group deputy secretary Simon Karunagaram said the new witness together with retired commissioner of police Datuk Awaludin Jadid, the former head of E2 social extremism division of the Special Branch, would be called in to testify.

“If everything goes well, we will also close the inquiry on Dec 7,” Simon said.

He said this was the outcome of a closeddoor meeting with commissioners Datuk Mah Weng Kwai, Prof Datuk Dr Aishah Bidin and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh together with the police and Koh’s family’s legal counsel yesterday.

Suhakam has so far called in 14 witnesses since the inquiry opened on Oct 19 last year.

Koh, 62, was abducted by a group of men along Jalan SS4B/10 in Petaling Jaya on Feb 13, 2017 while on his way to a friend’s house.

His car bearing the number plate ST5515D has not been found.

Simon also said the inquiry into Perlis activist Amri Che Mat was officially closed.

On Oct 31, Suhakam said it was closing Amri’s inquiry subject to the availability of potential witnesses.

“At the last hearing, the panel closed the inquiry, which is subject to be reopened if we have new evidence or witnesses.

“For now, we don’t have any more new witnesses, so we have closed Amri’s case for good,” Simon said.

The closure of Amri’s case will be followed by the relevant parties to send their submission. After that, the Suhakam panel will go through the documents and make a decision on the case.

Amri, who was the co-founder of non-governmental organisation Perlis Hope, had left his home in Kangar, Perlis, in his SUV at about 11.30pm on Nov 24, 2016.

His car was found abandoned at a construction site the following day.

Amri’s inquiry, which started on Jan 22 this year, saw 24 witnesses giving their testimony to Suhakam.

Simon also said the inquiry into the disappearance of Pastor Joshua Hilmi and his wife Ruth Sitepu would be discussed on Dec 7.

Hilmi and his wife Sitepu are said to have vanished sometime in November 2016.

A police report was made by a friend of the couple on March 6, 2017.