PETALING JAYA, Jan 17 — An activist group urged authorities to explain the sudden prosecution of a man for the abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh, after the development compelled the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) to cease its inquiry into the matter.
The group calling itself Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (Caged) noted that Suhakam was making headway in its inquiry into the disappearance of Koh and several others, before the charge against a part-time Uber driver on Monday forced the commission to stop.
Suhakam said yesterday that is must halt the inquiry into Koh's case as Section 12 (3) of the Human Rights Commission Act requires such activity to cease once the subject becomes an active court case.
“We have been inspired by the way the panel has conducted the inquiry so far… but were shocked to be informed Koh’s inquiry will cease until further notice,” the group said in a statement.
Caged questioned both the timing of the charge against Lam Chang Nam for Koh's kidnap as well as authorities’ failure to publicise the development in the case that has both global and local attention.
It also noted that the charge came just before three police witnesses were due to testify in the Suhakam inquiry.
Suhakam announced yesterday that it must suspend the inquiry into Koh's case as it was informed by the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun of the charge against Lam.
However, the commission said it would continue its examination into the disappearance of others such as Amri Che Mat, Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife, Ruth Sitepu.
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 the abduction.
Part-time driver Lam, who claimed trial to extorting Koh’s son last year, was charged on Monday at Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court with kidnapping or abduction.
