A special task force formed by the Home Ministry to reinvestigate the alleged enforced disappearances of pastor Raymond Koh and activist Amri Che Mat is to be headed by former High Court judge Abdul Rahim Uda.
At a press conference today, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin also announced the names of five other members of the task force which include serving and former high-ranking police officers.
They are former Royal Malaysian Police Legal Unit chief, Mokhtar Mohd Noor, police Integrity and Standard Compliance Department director Zamri Yahya, Muhammad Bukhari Abdul Hamid (director of EAIC operations), and Mohd Sophian Zakaria, who is a legal officer from the Attorney-General's Chambers' prosecution division.
Meanwhile, Mohd Russaini Idrus, who is secretary of the Police Force Commission, was appointed the task force's secretary.
"The members of this task force are given a tough task, but I have confidence in the wisdom of the leaders here that they would be able to solve all the issues," Muhyiddin said in his announcement.
The minister told members of the media that the task force is given six months to complete their probe.
He also stressed that the task force was not a royal commission, and that it was formed to conduct a just investigation into Suhakam's public hearing finding in April which concluded that the police's Special Branch was involved in the men's disappearances.
"The Home Ministry is of the view that this public hearing by Suhakam had created concerns among the public on the credibility of the police force, which is tasked with ensuring the country's security.
"The report by Suhakam had created negative perception, which was said to be unfair to the police as the accused party (in the hearing). The ministry is of the view that this report is serious and should be looked into thoroughly.
"Thus, the government needs to investigate the report by Suhakam, so that it would be fair to all," Muhyiddin said, reading from a written statement.
When asked what were the criteria in selecting the task force members and why it consists many members of the police force, Muhyiddin said the police officers were not from the Special Branch.
The appointment of Abdul Rahim as chairperson of the task force was also done to ensure its independence, according to the minister.
"We do not want this task force to be seen as police investigating their own. That is why we appointed a former judge to head the task force.
"I am confident (with them) as the officers are not from the Special Branch, thus giving them independence and not to be influenced (in conducting the probe)."
On Suhakam's request to be in the task force, Muhyiddin said he believed the team should be allowed to carry out their duties without any interference.
He added that however, Suhakam representatives are free to meet with the task force anytime for discussions.
Prior to the press conference, a ceremony was held during which Muhyiddin handed over letters of appointment to members of the task force.
On May 23, it was reported that the Home Ministry would establish a special committee to reinvestigate the alleged enforced disappearances of Koh and Amri.
Muhyiddin Yassin had said then the decision was taken following a Suhakam inquiry panel finding that the police were involved in both disappearances.
In its April 3 report, Suhakam had concluded that the Special Branch was involved in the disappearances of Koh and Amri in 2016 and 2017.
"The panel is of the considered view that the enforced disappearance of Amri Che Mat was carried out by agents of the state, namely, the Special Branch, Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur, within the definition of the first limb of Article 2 of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED)," Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai had read from the inquiry report.
Over two years ago, CCTV footage had emerged showing Koh being abducted by masked men in broad daylight. The incident occurred in Petaling Jaya, Selangor on Feb 13, 2017.
During Suhakam's inquiry into Amri’s case, eyewitness accounts suggested that the social activist had been monitored and then abducted in Kangar at about midnight on Nov 24, 2016.
[More to follow] - Mkini
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