Susanna Liew Sow Yoke, the wife of Pastor Raymond Koh Keng Joo, has called for an independent investigation and the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to address her husband's mysterious disappearance. Liew expressed disappointment with recent remarks by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who indicated that the police investigation into her husband’s case, along with that of activist Amri Che Mat, would continue until justice is served.
For Liew, the assurance from Saifuddin is bittersweet and unsatisfactory, as she believes police efforts have been ineffective and inadequate. "These abductions happened back in November 2016 and February 2017. Over seven years have passed, and the police continually claim to be investigating. However, their actions show a lack of genuine commitment to achieving justice for the victims and their families," she said in a recent statement.
In the case of her husband, Liew highlighted evidence from CCTV footage and eyewitnesses that showed Koh being abducted by around 15 individuals in multiple vehicles, including a distinctive golden Toyota Vios. This vehicle, according to Liew, belonged to Saiful Bahari Abd Aziz, who has been connected to the police’s Special Branch. She referenced findings from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), which in 2019 concluded that Koh and Amri’s abductions were carried out by the Special Branch, based on substantial evidence and probability.
Given these findings, Liew and the public had hoped that the government would pursue an independent inquiry to hold those involved accountable or at least establish an RCI. Such a move, she argues, would demonstrate a commitment to justice for her husband and Amri Che Mat. However, the government instead formed a special task force that ultimately produced a classified report, which Liew had to legally contest to access as part of her ongoing lawsuit against the police.
Further validating her call for an independent probe, Liew pointed out that Datuk Abdul Rahim Uda, a retired High Court judge and chairman of the special task force, testified in court that an independent investigative body was necessary to look into individuals identified in Suhakam’s report and that establishing an RCI was essential. She urged the government to implement the recommendations of the task force and establish an independent inquiry to signal a sincere commitment to justice.
Liew's statement followed Saifuddin’s October 11 response to Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng’s parliamentary inquiry regarding the investigation’s progress on Koh and Amri’s cases. In his reply, Saifuddin reiterated that police investigations were ongoing but refrained from providing specific details to protect the integrity of the investigation process. He assured that the investigations were being conducted transparently and would continue until justice is achieved for the victims and their families.
Pastor Koh was abducted on February 13, 2017, in broad daylight along Jalan SS4B/10 in Kelana Jaya, Selangor. His vehicle was surrounded by seven cars, and he was forcibly taken by about 15 masked individuals. Meanwhile, Amri Che Mat disappeared in similar circumstances on November 24, 2016, when his car was surrounded by multiple vehicles and men near his home.
Suhakam’s 2019 inquiry concluded that the Special Branch was responsible for these enforced disappearances. Liew subsequently filed a civil lawsuit in February 2020 against 13 defendants, including former police inspectors-general, the Royal Malaysia Police, and the Malaysian government, demanding the truth about her husband’s whereabouts. She seeks several court orders, including one compelling the police to disclose Koh’s location and another ordering the arrest and court testimony of Saiful Bahari regarding his involvement in Koh’s disappearance.
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