Suhakam inquiry: Ex-IGP admits lapses in investigations into Koh disappearance

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (pix) admitted that there could have been some lapses from the side of the police, in the investigations into the abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh.
During questioning by lawyer Gurdial Singh Nijar at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) inquiry, Khalid said time is of the essence for police when it comes to cases involving missing person.
At this juncture, Gurdial, who acted on behalf Koh's family, pointed out several delays, based on witnesses testimonies, made by the police during the early investigation process when Koh was first reported missing.
Gurdial had highlighted on how Koh's family had taken the initiative to go to the abduction scene in search for clues, and went to some of the houses to secure CCTV footages of the incident.
"They went to the vicinity, took photos ... police did not do that. Do you agree that it is a lapse (by police)?" Gurdial asked, in which Khalid agreed.
The former top cop spend almost five hours providing his testimony to the three-panel inquiry, chaired by Suhakam commissioner Datuk Mah Weng Kwai.
Commissioners Prof Datuk Dr Aishah Bidin and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Salleh also sat as the panellists at the inquiry held on the disappearance of Koh, social activist Amri Che Mat and Pastor Joshua and his wife, Ruth Hilmi.
The inquiry was also presented with the edited version of the CCTV footage which showed the process of the abduction, where Gurdial later asked whether Khalid agreed that it was done efficiently.
Khalid agreed that the manner of the abduction was indeed organised but was done in a "kelam-kabut" (hectic) way, adding that he knew of a murder case where which was done with more elaborated planning.
"You have not seen the murder of a gang (member) in Setapak which is much more organised than this," he said.
"This was all learned from movies and they probably tried to emulate that," he added, referring to the case in Setapak.