Four suspects in Pastor Koh's abduction released, Suhakam told

SUHAKAM INQUIRY | The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia's (Suhakam) was told in a public hearing today that four suspects investigated in connection with the abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh have been released on police bail.

Senior investigating officer Supari Muhammad told the panel, headed by Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai that there was no evidence to charge them with Koh's abduction.

"They were remanded for 13 days with two applications for remand.

"We did our interrogation, intelligence, and the papers have been submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC)," Supari said.

"There were no leads or evidence found, linking them to Pastor Koh's abduction," he added. 

The four were subsequently released on the orders of Selangor CID chief Fadzil Ahmat after the AGC classified the case as no further action (NFA)

Earlier, Supari was shown a video of a press conference by then inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar who first confirmed the arrest of several individuals believed to be linked to Koh's abduction.

It was reported on June 17 that the police had gunned down a 41-year-old arms and drugs smuggler in Kampung Weng Dalam, Alor Setar, Kedah.

After the shootout, the police also arrested three suspected syndicate members, aged between 30 and 60, as well as the prime suspect's widow.

Supari told the panel at the Suhakam headquarters today that Kedah police, had in the course of conducting its investigations into the shooting incident, discovered links between the four suspects and Koh's abduction, through a number plate found in the gunned man's car.

A Bukit Aman taskforce later found several photographs of Pastor Koh, his Honda Accord and the apartment unit in front of his house at another suspect's house in Perak.

"I went to Kedah to pick them up and take them to Petaling Jaya for further investigations," he recalled.

With the release of the four, Supari said there have been no new leads into the investigations so far.

The Suhakam inquiry is investigating Koh, activist Amri Chemat, Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife Ruth Hilmy’s disappearances and whether these are cases of enforced disappearances as defined by the International Convention for Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances (ICPPED).- Mkini