SUHAKAM INQUIRY | No official warrant was obtained for the purpose of a "visit" led by Perlis mufti Dr Asri Zainal Abidin to the house belonging to missing social activist Amri Che Mat about one year before his disappearance.

Asri told the Suhakam panel led by commissioner Mah Weng Kwai that he saw no reason to obtain a warrant as he only intended to visit the premise in Padang Bohol, Perlis, on Oct 21, 2015, to verify public complaints about alleged Syiah activities carried out there.

"There is no special warrant but we went to visit the place. At least we know whether the complaints were true or otherwise," said Asri who was the inquiry's 10th witness.

"We never broke into the house. We asked for permission (to enter)," said Asri who added that he was allowed to enter by a man previously identified in the inquiry as Amri's brother-in-law Norhafizal Ariffin.

Asri said their group had remained in an area identified as the living room where he found various elements that "proved" public concerns on alleged Syiah activities conducted at the house.

"I saw that it was true there were Syiah activities because there was the “Karbala” stone and various cloths placed around a “hauzah”.

"There is no doubt that it was a Syiah place," said Asri adding they did not do anything else beyond taking photographs as they did not have a warrant.

He, however, insisted that the Perlis mufti's office had not targeted Perlis Hope as a social welfare NGO but rather it was acting on informal public complaints about alleged Syiah activities conducted at the house.

Based on informal discussions with the police, Asri (below) said that the Perlis crown prince had on one occasion suggested that his (Asri's) planned "visit" to Amri's house should be accompanied by the state police chief.

Asri's testimony today contradicted Amri's wife, Norhayati Ariffin, who previously told the inquiry that the mufti was present during a raid on her house and she had refused him entry as her husband was not at home.

Although Norhayati said she was not formally told that a raid was being conducted, she had insisted it was more than just a "visit" based on the behaviour of police officers who accompanied Asri.

Took photographs

Asri, to questions from Royal Malaysia Police observer Fahmi Visuvanathan, later denied Norhayati's claims that police officers present had acted in an intimidating manner.

"We were chatting before that [..] I also patted her child's head.

"There was one 'big sized' police officer. His (normal) voice was a bit louder than mine. He was not shouting," said Asri.

While in the house, Asri added that Norhayati had not attempted to stop them from taking photographs and he would have ordered his officer to stop if there was such a request.

Suhakam is currently investigating whether the disappearances of Amri, attached to social welfare organisation Perlis Hope, and two others were “enforced or involuntary,” as defined by the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED).

This is defined as the arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the state or by persons, or groups of persons acting with the authorisation, support or acquiescence of the state.

The instrument was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006. Malaysia is not a signatory to the ICPPED.

The two other disappearances being investigated are that of pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife Ruth Sitepu.

The commission had previously investigated pastor Raymond Koh’s disappearance but was forced to suspend proceedings after former Uber driver Lam Chang Nam was charged in court for abducting Koh.

The law bars Suhakam from probing matters which have been brought before the court.