Suhakam inquiry finds enforced disappearance of pastor, wife ‘involuntary’ but no evidence to show by ‘agents of the state’

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 ― Malaysian pastor Joshua Hilmy and his Indonesian wife Ruth Hilmy who went missing in 2016 were likely victims of an enforced disappearance due to their religious activities, according to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

However, the three-member panel that led the public inquiry said it found no evidence to show that “agents of the state” were involved in the Hilmys' abduction, unlike in the cases of social activist Amri Che Mat and Pastor Raymond Koh, two news portals reported today.

“The enforced disappearance was carried by person or persons unknown with the acquiescence of the Royal Malaysian Police as the agent of the state.

“However, it is the panel's finding… and a balance of probability the disappearance of both Joshua and Ruth are involuntary in nature,” former judge Datuk Seri Mohd Hishamudin Md Yunus who led the three-member panel was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini today.

The news portal also reported Hishamudin linking the couple’s enforced disappearance to Joshua’s proselytisation of Christianity to Muslims in Malaysia as well as sensitive posts on social media.

The Suhakam inquiry panel noted that Joshua was born a Muslim but converted to Christianity in Singapore in 2003.

Malaysiakini reported Hishamudin saying three investigating officers (IO) called to testify in the Suhakam inquiry had refused to divulge documents and further information while “the state” had not provided any information about the disappearances and case progress.

Separately, Free Malaysia Today (FMT) quoted Hishamudin as saying that the Hilmys “involuntary disappearance breached the laws of Malaysia” and added that the authorities had not only failed to investigate the case “diligently and seriously” but had even “hampered the progress”.

“According to Ruth’s brother Imam Sitepu’s testimony, he said the IO told him not to report Ruth’s disappearance to the embassy.

“We are of the view that the IO tried to suppress this case from the knowledge of other agencies and the public,” FMT quoted Hishamudin as saying further.

The Hilmys were reported missing on March 6, 2017 but news reports said they were last seen nearly four months earlier on November 30, 2016.

The other two Suhakam commissioners on the inquiry panel were Jerald Joseph and Madeline Berma.

Suhakam’s public inquiry began on February 10, 2020 until January 22 this year; 26 witnesses called to testify.