Some lapses in Koh’s case
> Former IGP admits there could have been discrepancies in investigations
KUALA LUMPUR: Former inspector-general of police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar yesterday admitted there could have been some lapses in their investigations into the abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh.
During questioning by lawyer Gurdial Singh Nijar at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) inquiry, Khalid said time is crucial for police when dealing with cases involving missing persons.
At this juncture, Gurdial, who acted on behalf of Koh’s family, pointed out several delays, based on witness testimonies, made by the police during its initial investigation when Koh was first reported missing.
Gurdial had highlighted how Koh’s family had taken the initiative to go to the abduction scene in search of clues and went to some of the houses to secure CCTV footage of the incident.
“They went to the vicinity, took photos ... the police did not do that. Do you agree that it is a lapse (by police)?” Gurdial asked, to which Khalid agreed.
Gurdial said that ordinary citizens were carrying out the duties of police, as the police had never produced footage of the incident.
“This is not an acceptable conduct by the investigating officer,” Gurdial said, to which Khalid agreed.
The former top cop spent about five hours providing testimony to the threepanel inquiry, chaired by Suhakam commissioner Datuk Mah Weng Kwai.
Commissioners Prof Datuk Dr Aishah Bidin and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Salleh also sat as panellists at the inquiry held on the disappearance of Koh, social activist Amri Che Mat and Pastor Joshua Hilmi, and his wife Ruth Sitepu.
On the morning of Feb 13, 62year-old Koh was abducted by a group of masked men less than 100m from a police housing complex in SS4, Kelana Jaya.
The inquiry was also presented with an edited version of the CCTV footage, which showed the abduction, to which Gurdial later asked whether Khalid agreed that it was done efficiently. Khalid agreed that the manner of the abduction was indeed organised but was done in a “kelam-kabut” (hectic) way, adding that he knew of a murder case with more elaborate planning.
Khalid, at various points during the hearing, had refused to provide detailed information on police investigations into Koh’s disappearance, stating that it could affect the investigation.
In several instances, he had asked the panel to get the detailed information from Selangor CID chief SAC Fadzil Ahmat, who heads a task force probing Koh’s disappearance. Khalid will be called again on Nov 21 to provide further testimony.
The next hearing will resume on Nov 2 with Fadzil, among the three witnesses, expected to appear.