The inquiry’s first eyewitness, Syed Amri Abdul Jalil, was however unable to recall most of the details except that the four-wheel drives were dark in colour, and a “big and tall man” had stepped out from one of the vehicles.
When pressed to describe the man, all Syed Amri could remember was that he had worn a collared T-shirt and jeans.
Syed Amri was on his motorcycle on his way home from the gym when he saw the vehicles. It was around midnight, and he had stopped at a red light on Jalan Padang Behor, Kangar, Perlis.
He said the vehicles caught his attention as they had stopped on the road some 300 metres away for no apparent reason.
“At first I thought it was an accident. I slowed down my motorcycle to take a closer look but never actually stopped,” he said.
Syed Amri was on the other side of the road which was separated by a divider. He said the area was dark except for some light coming from a tyre shop opposite the road.
Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai, who is chairing the panel, noted that the police observers did not ask Syed Amri any questions.
“I’m surprised that no questions from the authorities were asked. This is a very important witness,” he said.
Amri, who co-founded Perlis Hope, has been missing since Nov 24, 2016.
The Suhakam inquiry is also investigating the disappearance of Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife, Ruth. The couple were last seen on Nov 30, 2016.
The inquiry had also included the case of Pastor Raymond Koh, who has been missing since February last year after being abducted by some 10 men in Petaling Jaya.
However, the inquiry could not continue with Koh’s case after a suspect was charged with kidnapping the pastor.
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