LIVE: Suhakam inquiry into missing activist recalls Perlis PKR chairman
Noel Achariam | 7 June 2018
THE Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) inquiry panel investigating the disappearance of activist Amri Che Mat has recalled Perlis PKR chairman Faisol Abdul Rahman to testify today.
This follows claims by Amri’s wife, Norhayati Ariffin, that a police officer had told her that Bukit Aman was involved in the abductions of her husband and Pastor Raymond Koh.
Last week, the inquiry took a dramatic twist when Sentul police chief Assistant Commissioner R. Munusamy showed Norhayati a police report lodged by Sgt Shamzaini Mohd Daud, denying everything she had told the panel in her testimony.
Faisol, who had testified earlier in Amri’s case, said he was recalled to give his statement regarding Norhayati’s claims that she was told by Shamzaini that police were involved in the disappearance of the two men.
“She told me about Shamzaini. Then, we discussed in our group and made a decision that Norhayati should come to Kuala Lumpur and lodge a police report. That’s why they called me to testify,” he told The Malaysian Insight.
Norhayati told the panel that Shamzaini had visited her home in Kangar, Perlis, on May 12 to talk about Amri and Koh’s disappearance.
She also said she knew nothing about Shamzaini’s police report.
Norhayati alleged that Shamzaini had told her that he was coming forward with the information now because there is a new government following the May 9 polls.
The panel will also hear testimonies from Norhayati’s family aide, Sheryll Stothard, and Amri’s friend, Anwar Ismail.
Sheryll said she has been called to testify regarding assisting Norhayati, together with her lawyers, in preparing her statement for police.
“We also accompanied her to the police station to lodge the report.”
Amri, who is also a forex trader, is believed to have been abducted on November 24, 2016, while on the way to meet a friend.
His car was seen surrounded by four-wheel-drive vehicles in Kg Padang Behor.
Koh was abducted in Petaling Jaya on February 13 last year by about 15 men in three black SUVs.
Suhakam is conducting a public inquiry into the disappearance of Amri, Koh, Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife, Ruth, to determine if they are cases of enforced disappearance sanctioned by the state.
The Malaysian Insight brings you the live proceedings.
4.20pm: Amri family lawyer Philip Koh suggested to the panel that Shamzaini, who would be appearing on June 25 to give his statement, should have legal representation.
He said that Bar Council was willing provide legal assistance.
“He should not come and give false evidence because the narrative has changed as to what our client has said.”
Mah said he will ask Suhakam to send a letter to Shamzaini stating that he can get legal representation from Attorney-General’s Chambers, police or the Bar Council.
The inquiry ends and will resume on June 25.
4pm: Suhakam officers then called Amri’s friend Anwar Ismail to the stand.
Anwar told the panel what Norhayati had relayed to him about Shamzaini.
Munusamy then ask Anwar if what he told the panel was based on what Norhayati told him.
Anwar answered “Yes”.
3.40pm: Munusamy ask Stothard if Awaluddin said he would use violence against the perpetrators.
Stothard said Awaluddin did not say that.
Munusamy then ask her if there was any mention by Awaluddin that Shia followers should be abducted.
Stothard said that Awaluddin did not mention abduction but he said action must be taken.
3.20pm: Stothard says that Awaluddin had said he had caught some Malays who had become pastors.
She says that Awaluddin said that the Shia had become bolder and had penetrated certain organisations.
Stothard says that Perlis mufti Maza (Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin) had said that Shia teachings had come into the state through welfare organisations.
She says that Maza said Shia teachings could cause provocations in the country.
3pm: Gomez asks Stothard to read a transcript from one of DCP Awaluddin Jadid talks that was recorded in 2016.
Stothard says that Awaluddin had said that it was easy back when the Internal Security Act was around, but it was attacked and eventually abolished.
He said that even though there was the Prevention of Crime Act now, it was not the same.
Stothard says that Awaluddin said he would go to all the states to focus on their enemy, the Shia.
She also says that Awaluddin had said that the Shia were only targeting those who suffered because they could not get close to normal Malays.
2.40pm: The Suhakam inquiry continues with Sheryll taking the stand.
Amri’s family lawyer, Jerald Gomez, asks Stothard who accompanied Norhayati to the Shah Alam police headquarters.
Stothard says that it was Anwar, Faisol, Aizat and her two daughters.
“When we reached there, the police said that only one person coulld accompany Norhayati to give her report.
“So I followed her, and we gave the report and some documents to Inspector Aswani.”
11.45am: The Suhakam inquiry takes a break and will resume at 2.15pm.
11.10am: Suhakam officers call up Sheryll to give her testimony on Shamzaini.
Sheryll says she got a call on May 13 from Faisol, about the meeting between Shamzaini and Norhayati.
“I then contacted Norhayati, who relayed what had happened. I told her that I will have to discuss what she said with the lawyers and we will get back to her.”
Sheryll says after discussing with the lawyers, they suggested that Norhayati lodge a police report.
“I then told Norhayati to lodge a report, but she said she was afraid to do it in Perlis.
“I then told her to go and lodge the report in Kedah.”
The inquiry takes a break.
10.50am: Munusamy asks when did Faisol contact his friend, the police officer.
Faisol says it was on May 13.
Munusamy asks him about Shamzaini’s picture on Facebook.
Faisol reiterates that he got the picture from Facebook.
Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai asks Faisol to whom did he show Shamzaini’s picture.
“I first showed my friend the picture, then I showed the picture to Norhayati.
“They said the picture is of Shamzaini.”
10.35am: Curious as to who is the police officer who confirmed Shamzaini’s identity, Munusamy asks Faisol if he can reveal the person’s name.
Faisol immediately says “no”, as he does not want to jeopardise the person who confirmed Shamzaini’s identity.
10.30am: After receiving the information on Shamzaini, Suhakam officers ask Faisol if he had tried to contact the police officer.
Faisol says he searched on Facebook and found Shamzaini’s profile.
“I then showed Norhayati his picture on Facebook, and she identified the person as Shamzaini.
“I then called a friend in IPK Perlis, and she also confirmed that Shamzaini was Special Branch.”
10.20am: Suhakam officers ask Faisol about what Norhayati had told him about the incident.
Faisol says she told him that police had taken Amri.
“I asked Norhayati if Shamzaini was really a police officer. She said he had shown her his identification card.”
The officers then ask why Norhayati had lodged a police report in Shah Alam.
Faisol said this was because her lawyers were based in Kuala Lumpur, and the police station was close to the office.
10am: The Suhakam inquiry calls Faisol to the stand.
Suhakam officers ask him how he got to know about Shamzaini.
Faisol says he got a call from Aizat, who told him about the police officer.
“When I heard the story, I immediately called Norhayati.
“She then told me that Shamzaini had come to the house.”
9.50am: Munusamy asks Aizat if Norhayati Ariffin’s aide, Sheryll Stothard, had called him on May 13.
Aizat says she had contacted him and asked what they should do about what Shamzaini had told Norhayati.
“I said, talk to (Perlis PKR chairman) Faisol (Abdul Rahman) and arrive at a decision on what to do.”
Munusamy asks Aizat how Sheryll knew about Shamzaini.
Aizat says Faisol had told her about him.
9.40am: Police observer Sentul police chief Assistant Commissioner R. Munusamy asks Aizat if Sergeant Shamzaini Mohd Daud had contacted him before.
Aizat says he got two calls on May 15 from an unknown number.
“My number was private and only on May 28 did I notice that I got two calls from Shamzaini.
“Previously, I didn’t have his number.”
Munusamy asks if Aizat had met Shamzaini before.
Aizat says he had never met Shamzaini.
9.30am: The Suhakam inquiry continues with Aizat Hamid, who is a friend of missing activist Amri Che Mat and a Perlis Hope member, being called to the stand. – June 7, 2018.
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7 June 2018- Live: Suhakam inquiry into missing activist recalls Perlis PKR chairman