Malaysian court reaches landmark decision in mysterious abduction case of Christian pastor

Malaysia’s High Court made a historic ruling last week, holding the government accountable for the abduction of a Christian pastor eight years ago and awarding his family millions in exemplary and aggravated damages.

The landmark case, filed by the wife of the missing pastor Raymond Koh, has captured national attention. Koh’s whereabouts remain unknown after masked men dragged him from his car in a Kuala Lumpur suburb in 2017, according to Malaysian media reports.

His family has consistently claimed that he was taken by the police — a claim now validated by the High Court’s decision. In what is Malaysia’s first judgment of its kind, the court ruled that the government and police were responsible for his abduction.

The judge stated that the government was vicariously liable for “negligence, false imprisonment, misfeasance in public office, breach of statutory duty, conspiracy to cause harm, and infringement of fundamental liberties” in connection with Koh’s disappearance.

The court also ordered general damages to accrue daily from the date of Koh’s disappearance until his whereabouts are determined, amounting to more than 31 million ringgit (approximately $7.4 million) as of the ruling — the largest sum ever awarded in Malaysian legal history.

Additionally, the judge directed that the awarded sum be placed in a trust fund, which cannot be released to Koh’s wife and children until his fate — “whether alive or deceased” — is confirmed.

The disappearance of Koh, along with that of activist Amri Che Mat, has long fascinated Malaysia.

Both men vanished within months of each other between late 2016 and early 2017, sparking intense public speculation. Koh’s case, in particular, dominated headlines because his abduction occurred in broad daylight, was captured on CCTV, and witnessed by bystanders.

Both families maintained that the men were abducted by police — an allegation that authorities repeatedly denied. The judge also ordered the authorities to reopen the investigation and determine Koh’s current whereabouts.

Their disappearances led to two investigations: one by Malaysia’s Human Rights Commission and another by the government. Both inquiries ultimately found that the men were likely abducted by the police’s elite Special Branch unit, as they were viewed as threats to mainstream Islam in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

The government report — previously classified as secret until the families sued for access — stated that “rogue cops” were responsible for the abductions, and that the operation’s leader held “extreme views” toward Christians and Shia Muslims.

Koh was allegedly targeted for “proselytising to Muslims,” an accusation his family denies. Apostasy, the practice of persuading some of switching religions, is illegal in Malaysia.

Amri Che Mat came under suspicion for being a Shia Muslim, as Malaysia primarily follows a moderate form of Sunni Islam.

By Nazrin Sadigova