The 13th witness at the public inquiry into the disappearance of Joshua and Ruth Hilmy, Hairol Azhar, was answering a question from lawyer Philip Koh whether he found it strange that Joshua, who is a Malay and a Muslim, was in church.
Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) chief commissioner Hishamuddin Yunus then asked if he carried out a further probe on Joshua who went missing in November 2016.
Hishamuddin said it is true that Malaysia practises freedom of religion but Hairol should have probed further as Joshua was missing.
Joshua, who had converted to Christianity, and his wife, Ruth Sitepu, were last seen on Nov 30, 2016.
Hairol was the Sungai Way police chief in 2018 when he was assigned to track the whereabouts of Joshua.
Hairol earlier said Joshua lived in a home in Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya, belonging to a church-goer who allowed Joshua to stay without paying rent.
Koh later asked Hairol if he had asked the Kampung Tunku house owner on how he knew Joshua.
The officer replied the owner, when questioned in 2018, said he had met Joshua two years earlier at a church in Seberang Prai. He told police Joshua went missing in December 2016.
Asked if he had questioned the owner why he let Joshua stay for free, Hairol replied “they could be good friends”.
Earlier, Hishamuddin was not pleased with the police witness who was not well prepared in presenting his testimony at the public inquiry.
He said he was disappointed with the lack of information from Hairol as the officer could not remember most of his facts.
“An officer who is coming to the inquiry must be well prepared. I’m rather upset and disappointed.
“He could have requested for another date (if not well prepared).”
Police observers then interjected and said that Hairol was coming all the way from the police headquarters in Kemaman, Terengganu.
They admitted that he should have been given more time to prepare.
Hairol was in charge of the missing case for 18 days in 2018. He then presented his report to the head of the Criminal Investigation Department on Oct 23 that year before his transfer to Terengganu.
Suhakam is carrying out the public inquiry on pastor Raymond Koh, Amri Che Mat, Joshua Hilmy and Ruth Sitepu.
Koh has been missing since Feb 13, 2017 after being abducted by a group of men in broad daylight, while Amri, the founder of Perlis NGO Hope, went missing on Nov 24, 2016.
In April last year, the Suhakam panel that conducted a public inquiry had concluded that Amri and Koh had been victims of forced disappearances carried out by the police Special Branch.
Amri had been alleged to be propagating Shia Islam while Koh was investigated by Islamic authorities for allegedly attempting to convert Muslims.