Court of Appeal Upholds Stay on RM37 Million Judgment in Pastor Koh and Amri Che Mat Cases

Published July 29, 2026 at 8:32 AM UTC

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Key Points

Court of Appeal upholds government's stay on RM37 million judgment in Pastor Koh case
Government not required to pay damages pending appeal outcome
Decision raises questions about accountability in enforced disappearance cases
Pastor Koh and Amri Che Mat disappeared in 2017 and 2016, respectively

Background History

Pastor Raymond Koh was abducted in broad daylight in Petaling Jaya on February 13, 2017. His disappearance, along with that of activist Amri Che Mat in 2016, has been a subject of extensive legal proceedings. In November 2025, the High Court found the government and police liable for their enforced disappearances, awarding RM37 million in damages to Koh's family and RM3 million to Amri's family. The Attorney General's Chambers filed appeals against these decisions, leading to the current stay on the judgment.

In a significant legal development, Malaysia's Court of Appeal has upheld the government's stay on the RM37 million judgment awarded to the family of Pastor Raymond Koh. This decision means that the government is not currently required to pay the damages pending the outcome of ongoing appeals. The ruling has sparked discussions about accountability and the pursuit of justice in the cases of Pastor Koh and activist Amri Che Mat, both of whom disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 2017 and 2016, respectively.