Malaysia (MNN) — A new development in the case of the missing Malaysian pastor, Raymond Koh, is both a praise report and a reminder to pray.
First, the praise. In 2019, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) investigated the 2017 forced disappearances or abductions of Koh and Shia convert Amri Che Mat.
Todd Nettleton of The Voice of the Martyrs USA says, “There was a special task force report about the two abductions” released after the investigation, but the government withheld this report from Koh’s wife, Susanna, and her lawyers.
“The government said, ‘No, that’s a top secret report. We can’t show that to you,’ and there was a lot of back and forth during the court case,” Nettleton continues.
Last week, “The government was ordered by the judge [to] turn over the report to Susanna (Koh) and her attorneys.”
This report should help Susanna Koh understand, at least in part, what happened to her husband when he was abducted by police in broad daylight nearly ten years ago. You can see our coverage of the Raymond Koh case here.
Roadblocks remain
Susanna Koh is suing the Malaysian government in search of answers, and she had a huge win last fall. “The victory that she won in November was very remarkable. It was a milestone victory,” Nettleton says.
“The judge said that it was the police who abducted Raymond Koh and ordered the government to pay damages and compensation to the Koh family until Raymond Koh was located. That dollar amount is going up every day until Raymond Koh is found or there’s an explanation of what happened to him.”
Pastor Raymond Koh, center, with his wife Susanna and their family. (Photo courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs USA)
Now, the reminder to pray: “The government immediately went into court and appealed that ruling, including the ruling that the police had to reopen the investigation, and the government was issued a stay,” Nettleton says.
“Essentially, the whole thing is on hold while that stay is in place. Susanna told me it could be two to five years while that works its way through the legal system.”
How to pray
Pray for strength and endurance for the Koh family. “Pray for Susanna and her attorneys. This is a long, hard road,” Nettleton says.
“This was a years-long legal process to get to that verdict, and now she’s facing another years-long legal process to fight the appeal and get through to hopefully confirming the verdict. It would be easy to grow weary and discouraged.”
Pray for courage and faith for persecuted Christians throughout Malaysia. Nettleton says, “The Raymond Koh case really is kind of a warning to Malaysian Christians: ‘We can find you. We can punish you.’”
Header image courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs USA.
