“The logical inference drawn from the totality of the evidence is that the abduction involves state actors, whether acting directly or indirectly, or with the knowledge, acquiescence, or support of others within the police infrastructure (in which) the defendant’s inability to provide a credible alternative explanation further supports this conclusion.”

 - Judge Su Tiang Joo

COMMENT | The state actors involved in the kidnapping of Pastor Raymond Koh and social activist Amri Che Mat are probably inconvenienced by this verdict but are not threatened by it.

These people are cut from the same cloth as the state actors, some of whom are within the state security apparatus, who protect the wanted kidnapper of M Indira Gandhi’s child.

You have to understand something. The state actors who kidnapped Koh and Amri probably believe that what they did was righteous and sanctioned by their superiors, enabled by the religious apparatus, and you better believe there is enough plausible deniability to cover the behinds of various political operatives.

Who had the power to order a tactical squad to kidnap Malaysians for whatever reasons? Who had the authority to issue such commands?

Who felt secure enough that their crime would go unsanctioned by the former Umno state? Who had the political influence to...