IGP: Suspect picked up over Pastor Koh’s abduction
Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar continues to dismiss accusations police more interested in investigating alleged proselytisation than Koh’s abduction.
Khalid Abu Bakar said the suspect, a local, was picked up in a state in the north, and that the arrest was made to facilitate the probe into Koh’s abduction.
“I would like to stress that there is no truth to the claims that the case is not being investigated.
“There is no way we will just close a case. Of course we are investigating it,” he told reporters after attending a police function in Bukit Aman police headquarters here today.
Khalid’s retort against the claims that police are neglecting the investigation comes amid accusations made on the occasion of the 100-day mark since Koh was abducted on Feb 13.
Earlier today, an international Christian organisation called for police to enhance efforts to secure Koh’s release instead of trying to investigate allegations that he had tried to proselytise to Muslims.
In calling on the police to cease their “baseless investigation”, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) also said that Koh had been subject to incidents of harassment and threats that warranted closer attention.
Yesterday, Koh’s wife Susanna Liew, expressed disappointment with Khalid for investigating her husband’s alleged proselytising rather than solving his abduction.
This is also not the first time that Khalid has had to defend the effectiveness of the special task force set up to investigate the abduction.
Koh, 62, was abducted by a group of masked men less than 100 metres from the Police Housing Complex in SS4, Kelana Jaya, on the morning of Feb 13. Video footage later emerged showing what looks like a well-executed plan involving seven vehicles and at least 12 individuals.
The whole incident takes place in less than a minute, with all vehicles, including Koh’s car, seen driven away.
Khalid later revealed that police were also investigating Koh for proselytising, as there were police reports for such an offence.
“It wouldn’t be fair just to investigate his disappearance, but we must look into whether it is linked to his alleged proselytising.”
Meanwhile, Khalid also said that the three activists who had accused the authorities of being involved in the abduction will be called up to have their statements recorded.
“We would like to know if they have any proof to back up their claim. If so, come forward. Don’t just make such accusations as it is a serious allegation,” the IGP said.
On May 17, another three activists – Suaram’s Sevan Doraisamy, Bersih activist Rama Ramanathan and Thomas Fann from community organisation Engage – were summoned by the police for questioning scheduled on May 24.
They had been calling on the authorities to take immediate action over a recent spate of apparently enforced disappearances, including that of Pastor Raymond Koh who has been missing since February.
They are now being investigated under Section 505B of the Penal Code for making statements allegedly conducive to “public mischief”.
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