Koh-Amri task force: Former cop Mokhtar withdraws
PUCHONG: Former Royal Malaysian Police legal unit chief Mokhtar Mohd Noor has quit from the special task force set up by the Home Ministry to investigate the enforced disappearances of pastor Raymond Koh and social activist Amri Che Mat.
In a statement, the Home Ministry confirmed that Mokhtar has withdrawn himself and a replacement would be announced soon.
Last week, Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the formation of the task force, with former High Court judge Datuk Abd Rahim Uda leading the team of six members to investigate the enforced disappearances.
Members of the task force are former Royal Malaysian Police legal unit chief Mokhtar Mohd Noor, Police Integrity and Standard Compliance Department director Zamri Yahya, EAIC director of operations Muhammad Bukhari Abdul Hamid and Mohd Sophian Zakaria who is a legal officer from Prosecution Division of the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Mohd Russaini Idrusm, who is secretary of the Police Force Commission, was appointed as the task force’s secretary.
However, families of the affected parties and rights group criticised the composition of the task force which is made up of former and serving police officers, raising questions of its impartiality.
The criticisms even drew the attention of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who had promised to look into the matter.
In April 3, Suhakam released its inquiry report, concluding that the police’s Special Branch was involved in Koh and Amri’s disappearances.
By G Vinod
