Suhakam will conduct public inquiry on disappearance of Pastor Koh

PETALING JAYA: A public inquiry on the disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh, social activist Amri Che Mat and Pastor Joshua and his wife, Ruth Hilmi will be now conducted by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).
In a statement issued today the Commission said that it was inline with the powers granted to it under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 (Act 597).
"This is necessary in the public interest to do so. In exercise of the powers conferred by sections 12 and 14 of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 (Act 597), Suhakam will be conducting a public inquiry into the cases of Pastor Raymond Koh, social activist Amri Che Mat and Pastor Joshua and his wife, Ruth Hilmi who were reported missing on 13 February 2017 and 24 November 2016 respectively," it said.
The inquiry will also consider whether the authorities, specifically the police have taken adequate steps to investigate these cases.
Suhakam said the inquiry will consider, whether these cases are cases of enforced or involuntary disappearances, as defined under the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance that defines an enforced disappearance as the arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the State or by persons or groups of persons acting with the authorization, support or acquiescence of the State.
"Information from all stakeholders, including the police and others who have been cooperative towards finding some truth to the matter," it added.
The public hearings are tentatively scheduled to be held in October 2017.
On the morning of Feb 13, the 62-year-old Koh was abducted by a group of masked men less than 100m from a police housing complex in SS4, Kelana Jaya. Video footage from CCTVs in the area showed seven vehicles, including three black four-wheel drive vehicles, forcing his car to a stop in the middle of the road.
The drivers then used their vehicles to box in Koh's car and prevent him from driving off.
Less than a minute later, Koh is apparently overpowered and his car bearing registration plate ST5515D is seen being driven away, with the other abductors following hurriedly.
Meanwhile, Koh's wife Susanna Liew maintained her concerns about learning of developments on her missing husband's case through the media, after police said human traffickers may have played a role in his abduction.