Family of Raymond Koh. Courtesy of BBC

 

The wife of Raymond Koh, a Malaysian pastor who vanished eight years ago, has triumphantly won a lawsuit against the police and the government. A high court ruled that Koh was forcibly disappeared, holding the state accountable for his 2017 abduction. This landmark verdict mandates the government to pay a staggering 31 million ringgit (approximately 79 million Thai baht) in damages.

 

Raymond Koh was abducted by masked men in a busy Kuala Lumpur suburb, and his fate remains unknown. His disappearance, alongside activist Amri Che Mat’s case, stirred intense public interest in Malaysia. Despite police denials, both families insisted the men were taken by police forces, based on evidence including CCTV footage of Koh's abduction.

 

The court’s decision delivers a significant blow to the authorities, marking Malaysia’s first ruling on enforced disappearance. Following the judgment, Susanna Liew, Koh’s wife, expressed her relief, calling it a partial closure for the family. She dedicated the victory to her husband and others missing under similar circumstances, acknowledging it won't bring him back but offers some solace.

 

Investigations by Malaysia’s human rights commission and the government previously suggested that elite police forces perceived Koh and Che Mat as threats to mainstream Islam. The government’s classified report, revealed through lawsuits, indicated that "rogue cops" orchestrated the abductions. The claim was they acted due to their extreme views against Christians and Shia Muslims.

 

Looking forward, the financial compensation will likely aid the affected families, but the quest for truth and accountability continues. Though this case brings attention to enforced disappearances, it remains uncertain if the actual perpetrators will face justice. Liew and Che Mat's wife aim to continue pressing for answers regarding their husbands’ whereabouts.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• The court held the Malaysian government accountable for Pastor Koh's disappearance.
• Koh’s wife received a historic compensation of 31 million ringgit.
• The case highlighted ongoing issues of enforced disappearances in Malaysia.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-11-06

 

 

12 hours ago, webfact said:

The claim was they acted due to their extreme views against Christians and Shia Muslims.

 

What?

I thought Malaysia was predominantly Muslim?

Sounds like a screwed up country if religious-based abductions are taking place sanctioned by the state. 

 

They're Sunnis, hunted down in every Muslim theocracy, always a minority.

9 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

What?

I thought Malaysia was predominantly Muslim?

Sounds like a screwed up country if religious-based abductions are taking place sanctioned by the state. 

 

It gets worse. Check out the fate of the ex PM's ex!

7 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

They're Sunnis, hunted down in every Muslim theocracy, always a minority.

What? Mostly it's Sunnis going after Shiite muslims. Most Muslims are Sunnis.

Those policemen acted according to Koran. 

And here was I thinking that Malaysia might be a nice place to visit (though I do understand that I'ld have to keep my b/f hidden in my suitcase).