Amri's wife pleads for police whistleblower's protection

SUHAKAM INQUIRY | The wife of missing activist Amri Che Mat, Norhayati Mohd Ariffin, has pleaded for protection for the Special Branch (SB) whistleblower who supposedly told her that the SB was involved in her husband’s disappearance.

At the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) public inquiry today, Norhayati said she was initially unconcerned about the safety of the informant, Shamzaini Mohd Daud, and now decided to reveal what he had told her during their meeting at 10.30pm on May 12, which lasted about two-and-half hours.

This is because Shamzaini told her that he was disclosing his information because there is now a new government, and he does not want to be an accessory to the abduction (“takmahu bersubahat”).

However, she said she later realised that her actions may have put Shamzaini in danger, and told the Suhakam Inquiry that she hopes Shamzaini will be given protection so that he may speak freely at the inquiry and not be pressured into doing otherwise.

Speaking to reporters later, Norhayati said she had also asked Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, through his aide, to help protect Shamzaini.

“I really hope that the authorities, such as the Home Ministry, will give him protection so that he can speak truthfully about what he has revealed...

“This is because when he is brave enough to speak up, surely he will be put under pressure once everyone knows. It may be the case that he can no longer speak truthfully.

“So, I really urge that he be protected so that he can speak the truth,” Norhayati said after today’s inquiry.

Shamzaini appeared anxious during meeting

Speaking at the inquiry earlier, she expressed hope that other police officers implicated by Shamzaini would be called to testify to Suhakam.

She testified that Shamzaini appeared anxious during their meeting and ducked for cover when a police patrol car passed by her house. He also asked for the meeting not to be recorded.

She said Shamzaini told her that he would not meet her again and would provide her with a phone with which the two could keep in touch. However, the phone never came through.

Norhayati said Shamzaini was also insistent that she speaks to her lawyers and ensures that his superior, ASP Razman Ramli of the Perlis Special Branch, is questioned on his revelations when Razman testifies to Suhakam on May 17.

Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai, who chaired the hearing, noted that Razman did not appear at the hearing where he was scheduled to testify, ostensibly because the officer had to sit for an examination and could not attend the hearing.

Noryahati had previously said she was informed that Razman was the Perlis SB officer who led the surveillance team that monitored her husband’s movements following allegations that Amri was involved with Shia teachings and forex trading activities.

She said Shamzaini told her during the meeting that the information Razman collected was forwarded to the Bukit Aman Special Branch, and that the Bukit Aman Social Extremist Threats Division principal assistant director Awaludin Jadid, the “Perlis police chief” and the then inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar were all aware of this.

It is not clear whether she was referring to Ab Rashid Ab Wahab, who was the Perlis police chief at the time of Amri’s (photo) disappearance on Nov 24, 2016, or one of the two officers who succeeded Rashid in the years since.

Norhayati said Shamzaini claimed that the Perlis SB was supposed to apprehend Amri and refer him to religious and financial regulators for his alleged crimes.

However, the Bukit Aman SB undertook the operation instead, without the knowledge of the Perlis contingent, she said.

“He said Amri was beaten up after they grabbed him and forced him out of his car. The police definitely did not follow the law when they took him,” she said, adding that she also asked about the missing pastor, Raymond Koh, and was told that he was taken by the same team.

Norhayati said the informant does not know what happened to Amri because no one spoke of it. Shamzaini had claimed that he was in Kuala Lumpur at that time, and not in Perlis, where the abduction took place, she said.

She added Shamzaini claimed that he could prove his alibi, but she did not ask him to show evidence.

After she Shamzaini left their meeting, Norhayati said, she immediately contacted two of her friends to discuss her next course of action, and both were at her home by 1.30am.

The duo is expected to testify when the Suhakam inquiry resumes tomorrow, to corroborate Norhayati’s account. Also called to testify are Norhayati’s 18-year old daughter, who was present at the meeting with Shamzaini, and Norhayati’s media liaison officer Sheryll Stothard.

Shamzaini, who was originally scheduled to testify tomorrow, will be called on another date.

Norhayati’s testimony will resume on June 12. -Mkini