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Malaysian court rules state liable in pastor's 2017 abduction, awards record damages
A Malaysian high court ruled Wednesday that the government and police were responsible for the 2017 abduction of Christian pastor Raymond Koh, ordering the state to pay his family at least 31 million ringgit ($7.4 million) in damages-the largest payout in the country's legal history.
The verdict marks Malaysia's first judicial recognition of a forced disappearance, a case that has captivated the nation since Koh was seized by masked assailants in broad daylight near Kuala Lumpur. His whereabouts remain unknown eight years later.
The abduction and its aftermath
Koh, a pastor, was dragged from his car in a suburb of the capital on February 13, 2017. The attack was captured on CCTV and witnessed by bystanders, sparking immediate outrage. His family long alleged police involvement, a claim authorities repeatedly denied.
In a press conference following the ruling, Koh's wife, Susanna Liew, called the decision a "vindication" but acknowledged it would not bring her husband back. "We dedicate this struggle to Pastor Raymond Koh, a man of compassion and courage, and to all victims of enforced disappearances," she said.
Investigations point to police role
Two separate probes-one by Malaysia's human rights commission and another by the government-concluded that Koh and activist Amri Che Mat, who vanished months apart in 2016-2017, were likely abducted by the police's elite Special Branch. A classified government report, later accessed by the families, described the operation as led by "rogue cops" with "extreme views" against Christians and Shia Muslims.
Koh was reportedly targeted over suspicions of proselytizing to Muslims, which his family denies. Apostasy is illegal in Malaysia, where Islam is the official religion. Amri Che Mat, a Shia Muslim, was also deemed a threat to the country's Sunni majority.
Unprecedented damages and ongoing accountability
The court awarded Liew 31.8 million ringgit in damages, including 10,000 ringgit for each day of Koh's disappearance until his whereabouts are revealed. The funds will be held in a trust for Liew and her children. Additionally, the judge ordered a renewed investigation into Koh's fate.
Amri's wife, Norhayati, who filed a separate lawsuit, received 3 million ringgit. "The sadness remains because we still don't know if Amri is alive, dead, or in good health," she told reporters, urging accountability for those responsible.
Government to appeal
Malaysia's Attorney General's Chambers announced plans to challenge both rulings. The case has reignited debates over police impunity and religious freedom in the Muslim-majority nation.
