Man charged over Pastor Koh’s disappearance, Suhakam halts inquiry

16th Jan 2018

Commissioner Mah Weng Kwai revealed that Suhakam received a letter from Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun at 3pm yesterday asking it to stop as there was a court case pending.

According to the letter, part-time driver Lam Chang Nam, who claimed trial to extorting Koh’s son last year, had been charged under Section 365 of the Penal Code for kidnapping or abducting on Monday.

It added that Lam was arrested on Jan 12 and appeared in court on Jan 15.

However, no details were given on whether the suspect was on remand or out on bail.

“Given the circumstances and the developments yesterday (Jan 15), we have decided that we will immediately cease the inquiry until further notice,” said Mah today, The Star Online reported.

He cited Section 12(3) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act that states that it should “immediately cease” an inquiry if the allegation becomes the subject matter of any court proceedings.

However, Mah said that Suhakam would proceed with the inquiry into the disappearance of social activist Amri Che Mat, Pastor Joshua Hilmi and his wife, Ruth Sitepu.

In March 2017, Lam was charged with extorting RM30,000 from Jonathan Koh Szu Hao, 33, for the release of his father, Raymond Koh.

Lam, 31, allegedly committed the offence at Paradigm Mall in Kelana Jaya here at 9.46pm on March 6 and was accused under Section 385 of the Penal Code for putting a person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion.

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.

CCTV footage, believed to be of the incident, showed at least 15 men and three black SUVs involved in Koh’s abduction.

Link to article found: https://www.beritadaily.com/man-charged-pastor-kohs-disappearance-suhakam-halts-inquiry/