KUALA LUMPUR: The findings from the public inquiry by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) reveals that the two missing persons, social activist Amri Che Mat and Pastor Raymond Koh, were victims of an enforced disappearance.
Its panel chairman Datuk Mah Weng Kwai said based on the lengthy discussions and deliberations in both cases, the panel disclosed that individuals or groups operating with the support of state agents had been involved in the abductions.
"The panel is of the considered view that the enforced disappearance of Amri was carried out by agents of the state namely Special Branch, Bukit Aman.
"The disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh was neither a case of voluntary disappearance nor a case of involuntary disappearance in breach of the ordinary criminal law.
"The directive and circumstantial evidence in Koh's case also proves that he was abducted by the Special Branch," he said at the announcement of the final findings of the Suhakam's public inquiry on the disappearances of the two, here, today.
Amri who was the founder of a Perlis non-governmental organisation (NGO) Hope reportedly went missing after he had gone out from his home in Kangar at about 11.30pm on Nov 24, 2016.
Amri was driving a Toyota Fortuner when it was "boxed in" at the material time and about an hour later, Amri's vehicle was found abandoned at a construction site at Bukit Chabang in Kangar.
Less than three months later, Koh was last seen by his wife Susanna Koh on Feb 13, 2017 at about 10.15am.
It was reported that Koh was abducted by a group of men along Jalan SS4B/10 in Petaling Jaya while on his way to a friend's house.
On Aug 9 in 2017, Suhakam conducted public inquiry into these missing persons - including Joshua Hilmi and his wife Ruth.