Former e-hailing driver Lam Chang Nam was charged with kidnapping and confining Koh on Feb 13, 2017. He was charged under Section 365 of the Penal Code, allegedly for committing the offence at Jalan SS4B/10A, Kelana Jaya with seven other suspects still at large. He was also charged with blackmailing Koh’s son, Jonathan, for RM30,000 in 2017.

Lam’s lawyer, Aaron Mark Pius said the acquittal was granted by magistrate Nurshahirah Abdul Salim earlier this month.

“The prosecution told the court they do not wish to proceed with the Section 365 charge, although they have already called nine witnesses.

“The defence submitted that he (Lam) should be given a full acquittal,” he said, adding that “there should be a finality” to Lam’s long legal battle.

Although the magistrate freed Lam on the kidnapping and confining charge, Pius said the magistrate would decided on Lam’s blackmailing charge at the end of the prosecution’s case.

“We have put in our submissions and the magistrate will give her decision on April 30,” he said, adding both the kidnapping and extortion case were jointly tried.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) had, between 2017 and 2019, held a public inquiry into Koh and activist Amri Che Mat’s disappearance.

The inquiry last year concluded that Koh and Amri were victims of enforced disappearance carried out by the state, namely the Special Branch.

Their families also filed lawsuits against the government and police over their disappearance.