Islamic and radical groups targeted Pastor Koh, friend tells court

 

Pastor Koh’s wife, Susannah Liew, is suing the government and the police over his disappearance since 2017.

KUALA LUMPUR: A long-time friend of missing Pastor Raymond Koh told the High Court today that Koh and his family were targeted by right-wing Islamic and radical groups after religious authorities raided his church in 2011.

The witness, Sri Ram KS Gopala, said Koh told him he had received pictures of bullets and white powder, which Koh believed took to be threats against him.

Sri Ram said officers of the Selangor Islamic religious department and the police had conducted a raid at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church in Petaling Jaya on Aug 3, 2011, while a fundraising dinner was being held in the compound.

The fundraiser was organised by Harapan Komuniti, an NGO founded by Koh, said Sri Ram, testifying in a suit brought by Koh’s family against the police and the government.

Koh has been missing since 2017 in what has been described by the human rights commission as an enforced disappearance.

Sri Ram said the officers acted without a search warrant, and began taking down details of Malay guests present.

“The (news about the) raid was blown out of proportion,” said Sri Ram. “The right-wing Islamist and radical groups, as well as politicians, called for action to be taken against Raymond, his family, Harapan Komuniti and church ‘in the name of Islam’,” he said.

He said in October that year, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, had commanded that no one would be prosecuted over the DUMC raid.

But Sri Ram said the matter did not end there and that DUMC was accused of trying to proselytise Muslims during a “Himpunan Sejuta Umat” later in the month.

Later, under cross-examination by senior counsel Nurul Farhana Khalid who is appearing for the government, Sri Ram said Koh did not lodge any police report on the bullets and white powder he received.

He also said no DUMC or Harapan Komuniti members were intimidated or threatened after the raid.

Farhana: So it was only your perception that he and his family were “targeted”?
Sri Ram: I disagree.

Koh’s wife, Susannah Liew, is suing the police, the inspector-general of police and a number of former high-ranking police officers over her husband’s disappearance.

The list includes former IGPs Khalid Abu Bakar and Fuzi Harun, and former principal assistant director of the Special Branch’s social extremism division, Awaludin Jadid.

Liew is seeking damages over Koh’s disappearance, and for the authorities to be held liable for his unlawful abduction, and for misfeasance in public office.

The hearing before judicial commissioner Su Tiang Joo continues tomorrow. - FMT