Missing Perlis activist was a bankrupt, inquiry told

KUALA LUMPUR: Missing Perlis activist Amri Che Mat was declared bankrupt in 2008, a police observer told the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia's (Suhakam) inquiry today.

ACP R. Munusamy, who is also the Sentul Police Chief, said this while cross-examining Perlis Hope volunteer Mohammad Faisol Abdul Rahman, who was the third witness called to the dock.

Mohammad Faisol earlier in his testimony acknowledged that Amri was involved in foreign exchange trading, but stated that the activist was not involved in any financial problem.

"He never asks to borrow money from me. He never discussed (on Amri's financial situation)," he added.

Munusamy asked whether Mohammad Faisol knew that Amri was declared a bankrupt, to which the witness replied he was not.

"He was declared bankrupt on March 18, 2008. Now you know. Do you still agree with the earlier statement that he was not experiencing any financial problem?" Munusamy asked.

"I stated that he did not have any financial problem as he was leading his life normally," Mohammad Faisol told the three-panel inquiry.

The inquiry was chaired by Suhakam commissioner Datuk Mah Weng Kwai and assisted by commissioners Prof Datuk Dr Aishah Bidin and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Salleh.

Amri went missing on Nov 24, 2016, believed to be abducted just 55m from his home in Kangar, Perlis.

Perlis Hope, a charity organisation co-founded by Amri, has been accused of having a link to Shia, which has been deemed "haram" (forbidden) by the National Fatwa Council.

Bar Council observer Andrew Khoo later requested for the police observer to provide supporting documents to Amri's bankruptcy status.

He added that being declared bankrupt did not necessarily mean that Amri was facing financial difficulties, citing an example of being a guarantor to a loan.

Mah replied it will now be the responsibility of the Amri family lawyers to do the research themselves.

"Maybe Amri has been discharged (of bankruptcy) by the time he did forex. So some homework needs to be done," Mah added.

Mohammad Faisol, who is also the Perlis PKR chief, said that Amri's trading in forex involved a great volume and might even reach hundred thousands of ringgit.

"After that, no one took over the forex (business). It came to a stop after Amri went missing," he added.

Mohammad Faisol in his testimony also said that he was informed about a person, identified only as Rozain, who admitted that he was involved in kidnapping Amri.

He said he did not know Rozain personally, but was a friend to the person who had received such information.

"Rozain admitted it to person A who told person B who told person C who told me," he said, adding that he later conveyed the information to the police.