Suhakam says Amri abducted by Bukit Aman

By admin-s On Apr 3, 2019

Amri Che Mat was a victim of enforced disappearance with circumstantial evidence pointing to Bukit Aman as the culprit, says the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

(The Star) – Suhakam commissioner Datuk Mah Weng Kwai said an inquiry panel looking into Amri’s disappearance came up with the unanimous conclusion after lengthy discussions.

“The direct and circumstancial evidence in Amri Che Mat’s case proves, on balance of probabilities, that he was abducted by state agents, namely, the special branch, Bukit Aman,” he said when announcing the findings of the public inquiry on Wednesday (April 3).

He said there was no evidence that the abduction was conducted by non-state agents.

Mah said the basis for the conclusion was found in the evidence of the testimony of Amri’s wife Norhayati Mohd Ariffin who said that a police officer told her that the Special Branch carried out the enforced disappearance.

The police were not present at the press conference announcing the findings.

His car was later found at the construction site of the Bukit Cabang Sports School in the wee hours of the following day.

Amri, who was being investigated for allegedly spreading Shia teachings, was also a mountain climber who was part of the 1997 Mount Everest Malaysian expedition team.

The inquiry was held under Section 12(1) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act in connection with the disappearances of Amri and Pastor Raymond Koh.

Suhakam will announce its conclusion on Koh later.

Koh, who founded the NGO Harapan Komuniti, was abducted by a group of men along Jalan SS4B/10 in Petaling Jaya on Feb 13, 2017, while on his way to a friend’s house.

CCTV footage of the incident showed at least 15 men and three black SUVs involved in the abduction, which was done in “professional” style.

Koh’s silver-coloured car bearing the number plate ST5515D has yet to be found.

The panel of inquiry consists of commissioners Datuk Mah Weng Kwai as chairman, Prof Datuk Dr Aishah Bidin, and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh.