Court Upholds Ruling Ordering Government to Release Report on Pastor Koh

8/23/2024 Malaysia (International Christian Concern) — Malaysia’s High Court on Thursday upheld its recent decision ordering officials to provide Pastor Raymond Koh’s wife, Susanna Liew, with a copy of a classified report on his disappearance.
Justice Su Tiang Joo said the government’s application to stay his recent ruling had no merit. He added that the government had failed to provide adequate reasons why the report should remain classified.
“Until and unless the court order is set aside, it must be obeyed,” Justice Su said.
On Aug. 15, Su allowed Liew’s application for the report because it is relevant to her ongoing lawsuit regarding her husband’s disappearance on Feb. 13, 2017. Four years ago, Liew filed a lawsuit against the police, the inspector-general of the police (IGP), and several high-ranking former police officers. Among the defendants named in Liew’s lawsuit are former IGPs Khalid Abu Bakar and Fuzi Harun and former principal assistant director of the Special Branch’s social extremism division, Awaludin Jadid.
Su had originally ordered officials to release the report within three days from Aug. 15. He also ordered the Malaysian government to pay RM3,000 in court costs.
Senior Federal Counsel Nurul Farhana Khalid stated that government policies and procedures in place prevent the report from being released before Sept. 13. Jerald Gomez, who represents Liew, said his client agreed to withhold contempt proceedings until that date.
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