Cop tells court missing Amri did not have enemies

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Cop tells court missing Amri did not have enemies

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2, 2024: Cop Roslan Remeli says the missing activist Amri Che Mat had quarrelled with an unidentified individual prior to his disappearance.

Roslan, who supervised a probe into Amri’s disappearance today told the High Court that Amri had no enemies who could be tied to his disappearance.

Roslan said he had instructed investigating officer Khor Yi Shuen to go to Perak to record a statement from an individual who had purportedly quarrelled with Amri over the sending of a child to Thailand to study Shia Islam.

Shia Islam, which is banned in Malaysia, is the second largest branch of the religion.

No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on the court proceedings:

Amri didn’t have enemies who wanted him abducted, cop tells court

Ho Kit Yen

-02 Oct 2024, 06:39 PM

Roslan Remeli says the missing activist had quarrelled with an unidentified individual prior to his disappearance. 

According to Suhakam, activist Amri Che Mat, who went missing in 2016, was a victim of an enforced disappearance carried out by the Special Branch. (File pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: A police officer who supervised a probe into Amri Che Mat’s disappearance told the High Court that the missing activist had no enemies who could be tied to his disappearance.

Roslan Remeli said he had instructed investigating officer Khor Yi Shuen to go to Perak to record a statement from an individual who had purportedly quarrelled with Amri over the sending of a child to Thailand to study Shia Islam.

Shia Islam, which is banned in Malaysia, is the second largest branch of the religion.

Roslan, however, said he could not remember the name of the individual in question.

But it did not come to a point where the person would want to kidnap Amri, he said.

Roslan was testifying in a lawsuit filed by Amri’s wife, Norhayati Ariffin, against the government and several police officers, including himself, over the conduct of investigations into the activist’s disappearance.

The suit alleges that the defendants had breached the law and their statutory duties, committed misfeasance in public office, and were negligent in the discharge of their responsibilities.

During cross-examination, Norhayati’s lawyer, Surendra Ananth, pointed out that a task force had been set up in 2019 to probe the disappearance of Amri and another missing person, Pastor Raymond Koh.

He said the task force had identified several police officers who had attended a meeting with Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin in 2015 and would be able to assist in investigations, including former Special Branch social extremism division assistant director Awaludin Jadid.

Do you agree that their statements should have been taken? Surendra asked.

Roslan disagreed, adding that he was not present at the meeting, and did not know what transpired.

The court had previously heard testimony from Awaludin that they had met Asri to explain the purported threat posed by Shia Islam followers in the state, including Amri.

Asked whether he knew of Syed Amri Abd Jalil, who is alleged to have witnessed Amri’s abduction, Roslan said Syed Amri was not able to confirm that the victim was in fact Amri.

The hearing continues on Thursday before Justice Su Tiang Joo, with police officer Shamzaini Daud scheduled to testify.

Shamzaini was said to be the person who met Norhayati in 2018, and allegedly told her that Bukit Aman was involved in Amri’s abduction.

Amri left his home in Kangar, Perlis, at about 11.30pm on Nov 24, 2016. His car was found at a construction site at the Bukit Cabang Sports School early the next morning.

Suhakam held a public inquiry into his disappearance between 2017 and 2019.

The inquiry concluded that Amri was a victim of an enforced disappearance carried out by the state, specifically by the Special Branch.