KUALA LUMPUR: The police have established a special investigative team to review the disappearances of activist Amri Che Mat and Pastor Raymond Koh, following a court ruling that found the authorities had failed to conduct proper investigations.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the team, led by an assistant commissioner of police, has already begun reviewing all initial investigation papers, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and findings from the previous special task force.
“The government respects the principle of the rule of law and is committed to seeking the truth and upholding justice.
“The police have immediately established an investigative team, despite the previous investigations were never officially closed.
“The team will also gather new evidence and we urge anyone with information about the case to come forward,” he said during the minister’s question time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said this in response to Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, who enquired about the next steps that will be taken by the government following the court’s decision on the cases of Amri and Koh, particularly in relation to the standard operating procedures and the credibility of police investigation.
Meanwhile, he added that the Attorney-General has reviewed the judgment and believes there are grounds to appeal, including matters related to financial commitments.
The decision to appeal, he said, does not indicate that the government undervalues human life or liberty.
“On the contrary, our actions are guided by the principle of upholding universal justice. The appeal is a legal and procedural measure, not a disregard for human rights or obligations,” he said.
Amri, a social activist from Perlis, and Koh, who founded the Hope Community organisation, were abducted in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
The Suhakam inquiry panel found “common features” between both disappearances, including the use of Special Branch resources and coordination.
Following the inquiry, the government announced the creation of a special task force to investigate Amri’s disappearance.
Last week, High Court Judge Datuk Su Tiang Joo ordered the government to pay RM10,000 per day to Koh’s family, starting from the date of his disappearance on Feb 13, 2017, until he is found.
The judge also granted RM4 million in general damages and RM250,000 in legal costs to Koh’s family. These, together with the daily sum to date, amount to about RM37 million.
The judge further ordered the government to pay more than RM3 million to Amri’s family for failing to conduct proper investigations into his disappearance.
The court also found the government and the police liable for breach of statutory duty and infringement of the right to life under the Federal Constitution for failing to investigate Amri’s disappearance in 2016.
The following day, the A-GC filed the notices of appeal.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
