The High Court has granted a stay on the enforcement of a judgment ordering damages and a fresh probe into activist Amri Che Mat’s 2016 disappearance, pending an appeal.
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today granted the government’s application for a stay of execution of a landmark judgment concerning the disappearance of activist Amri Che Mat.
Judicial Commissioner Datin Zalita Zaidan issued the ruling after hearing submissions from both parties in the case brought by Amri’s wife, Norhayati Ariffin.
The stay order suspends both the enforcement of over RM3 million in damages awarded to Norhayati and a court directive for police to recommence investigations into the 2016 incident.
Zalita stated that the court could not direct government officials on the appointment or removal of investigating officers in the case.
Senior federal counsel Zetty Zurina Kamaruddin, representing the Malaysian Government and the Royal Malaysia Police, argued that the investigation paper had never been formally closed.
Zetty Zurina contended that special circumstances warranted a stay pending the disposal of the government’s appeal against the original judgment.
Norhayati’s counsel, Surendra Ananth, indicated his client did not object to a stay on the damages and costs but wanted the investigation order to proceed.
Surendra argued that continuing the probe would not prejudice the government’s appeal currently before the Court of Appeal.
The government filed its application for the stay on Jan 8, following the High Court’s ruling last November.
On Nov 5, 2024, Judge Datuk Su Tiang Joo found the police and government liable for Amri’s enforced disappearance.
That judgment ordered the authorities to pay substantial damages and to reopen the investigation with bi-monthly progress reports to the Attorney-General.
Amri Che Mat was reportedly abducted in Perlis after his vehicle was surrounded by three cars and five men around midnight on Nov 24, 2016.
Norhayati had filed the suit against the police and government over her husband’s disappearance and the handling of the investigation.
The Sun Malaysia
