Saifuddin was non-committal on when the police would reopen their investigations, saying he needed to first obtain a “complete explanation” on the special task force’s reports on the missing duo.
The special task force was formed by the government, while its reports, which were classified, were prepared after separate Suhakam inquiries concluded that Koh and Amri were victims of enforced disappearances by the state.
“Nonetheless, my main focus is the court’s decision which specifically ordered the police to act (by reopening their investigations). That is what I’m working on with the police,” he told reporters here today.
“From now on, it falls under my responsibility to determine the next step, because of the court’s decision ordering the cops to do two things: reopen investigations, and produce Koh (and Amri) and show proof of his existence and whereabouts.”
Saifuddin said understanding the full context of the special task force’s reports was necessary before determining the next course of action.
He again pointed out that the cases occurred before he became the home minister, but maintained that he would not use that as an excuse to delay action.
He acknowledged that failure to comply with the court’s order could result in financial liabilities for the government, which underscored the urgency of carrying it out.
Koh was abducted on Feb 13, 2017 while he was driving along Jalan SS4B/10 in Petaling Jaya. During the trial, the court heard that five masked men in black military outfits had pulled him out of his car.
Amri, the founder of the NGO Perlis Hope, left his home at about 11.30pm on Nov 24, 2016. His car was found at a construction site at the Bukit Cabang Sports School in Perlis early the next morning.
Last week, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered the government and the police to pay Koh’s family RM37 million over the state’s involvement in his abduction.
It also ordered the government and the police to pay a sum of more than RM3 million to Amri’s family for their failure to conduct proper investigations into his disappearance.
Several days later, Saifuddin was briefed on the cases by the Attorney-General’s Chambers. He said how the case would be classified and investigated would be decided after he was briefed.