Govt granted stay of RM3mil judgment in missing activist’s case

 High Court allows payment to Amri Che Mat’s wife to be withheld pending an appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Norhayati Ariffin, the wife of missing activist Amri Che Mat, did not object to the stay decision as it involves public funds.

KUALA LUMPUR:

 The High Court here has stayed the enforcement of a judgment for RM3 million awarded to the family of activist Amri Che Mat last year over his disappearance 10 years ago.

Judicial commissioner Zalita Zaidan today allowed the government to withhold payment of the judgment sum pending its appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Earlier, lawyer Surendra Ananth, appearing for Amri’s wife, Norhayati Ariffin, said his client had agreed to the stay as it involved public funds.

However, Surendra insisted that the investigation into the disappearance of Amri must continue irrespective of the outcome of the appeal.

“It will not prejudice their (government and police) appeal,” the lawyer said.

Zalita said she was also staying the recommencement of the probe into Amri’s disappearance on the grounds that the court cannot direct the appointment or removal of officers investigating the case.

Senior federal counsel Zetty Zurina Kamaruddin appeared for the government and the police.

Last year, the court found the police liable for breaching their statutory duties and acting unconstitutionally.

It ordered that the government and the police to pay Norhayati RM2 million in general damages, RM1 million in exemplary damages, and special damages of RM14,457.52.

In his judgment, then High Court judge Su Tiang Joo questioned the police investigation into Amri’s disappearance, asking what had transpired over more than six years.

He said the government had provided no answers, having noted that investigating officer Khor Yi Shuen claimed he was no longer in charge of the case after being transferred out of Perlis in 2019.

Amri, the founder of the NGO Perlis Hope, left his home at about 11.30pm on Nov 24, 2016. His car was found at a construction site at the Bukit Cabang Sports School in Perlis early the next morning. - FMT