Suhakam suspends public inquiry into Pastor Koh abduction

16th Jan 2018

The decision was made upon receiving a letter from the Inspector-General of Police, yesterday, informing the commission that a man had been charged in the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court in connection with the abduction of the pastor, under Section 365 of the Penal Code.

The man, Lam Chang Nam, had claimed trial to extorting RM30,000 from Koh’s son last year.

The part-time Uber driver was said to have been rearrested on Jan 12 before being charged with abduction yesterday.

In March last year, police had said that the man was not connected to the abduction.

In a statement, the commission cited Section 12(3) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act which states that the Commission should immediately cease an inquiry if the allegation becomes the subject matter of any court proceedings.

“However, Suhakam will proceed with the public inquiry into the disappearance of Amri Che Mat, as scheduled on Jan 22, 24 and 25,” the statement read.

The public inquiry would be held at the Suhakam Inquiry Room, Level 13, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia in Jalan Sultan Ismail.

An online portal had reported that Koh’s wife, Susanna Liew, had expressed shock that the police had charged someone they previously said was not involved in her husband’s abduction.

“It is very shocking for us. The family had no idea that this was going to happen.

“Our hope when we came to Suhakam was to find some answers to the many questions we had about his abduction.

“We are very disappointed that our hope to find answers and exercise our human rights for truth and justice is being denied,” she was quoted as saying.

Link to article found at: https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2018/01/325749/suhakam-suspends-public-inquiry-pastor-koh-abduction