Landmark judgment finds state involvement in high-profile disappearances
The High Court in Malaysia has concluded that state actors and the police were responsible for the enforced disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and activist Amri Che Mat, ordering police to reopen their investigations. The ruling is the first judicial recognition in Malaysia that implicates the state in enforced disappearances and sets an important legal precedent.
What happened: Pastor Raymond Koh was seized in broad daylight by masked men in a military-style operation on Feb. 13, 2017, in Selangor; the abduction was captured on CCTV and Koh’s whereabouts remain unknown. Amri Che Mat disappeared under similar circumstances after leaving home in November 2016; he had reportedly been under scrutiny by religious authorities over accusations of promoting Shi’a teachings, which Malaysia does not officially recognise.
Other related cases include the mysterious disappearances of Muslim-born, converted preachers Joshua Hilmi and his wife Ruth Hilmi in 2016, which heightened concerns about religiously motivated vigilantism in the predominantly Muslim country.
“Though this will not bring Koh back, it is somewhat a vindication and closure for our family,” said Susanna Liew, Koh’s wife, who led a long campaign for accountability.
Compensation and appeal: The court awarded more than 30 million ringgit (about $7.2 million) in damages to Susanna Liew and 3 million ringgit (about $717,000) to Noorhayati Mohamad Ariffin, the wife of Amri Che Mat. The Attorney‑General’s Chambers announced it will appeal the decision in both cases.
Responses and significance: Malaysia’s human rights commission and a special government taskforce previously pointed to involvement by a police special branch, but no decisive government action followed. Rights groups — including UK-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide — praised the judgment, calling it a demonstration of judicial independence and urging authorities to locate Koh and bring those responsible to justice.
Continuing questions: Families and advocates welcomed the ruling as a major legal and emotional milestone, but many questions remain: whether the missing men are alive, who precisely carried out the abductions, and whether criminal accountability will follow. The court’s order to reopen investigations may renew public and international scrutiny of these cases.
