A Malaysian court has just delivered a thunderbolt to its own government, ruling that authorities abducted a Christian pastor in broad daylight and covered it up for years.

The High Court decision found the Royal Malaysian Police and national government culpable for the 2017 forced disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh, awarding his wife millions in what is now the nation’s largest known legal payout for damages, as BBC reports.

Koh was taken off a street in a Kuala Lumpur suburb by masked men in a military-style operation that was caught on CCTV—yet for years, police denied involvement while the family insisted officers were behind it.

High Court Confirms Police Role In Disappearance

On Wednesday, that denial came crashing down. The court formally ruled that law enforcement forcibly disappeared Pastor Koh, confirming the worst fears of his wife, Susanna Liew, and human rights advocates who suspected official wrongdoing.

It is Malaysia’s first legal acknowledgment of a state-sponsored kidnapping, a precedent-setting judgment in a nation where religious minorities often walk a fine line under the strict interpretation of state-backed Sunni Islam.

As a result, the court ordered the government to pay at least 31 million ringgit—roughly $7.4 million—in compensation to Liew for emotional trauma and loss, with daily damages adding up until authorities reveal what happened to her husband.

Damages Reflect Ongoing Cover-Up Allegations

The court awarded Liew 10,000 ringgit per day of Koh’s disappearance, an amount that continues to accrue until authorities provide his whereabouts. That’s a justice tab the government will keep paying—literally—until it comes clean.

“We are overjoyed and thankful to God that we have a fair and honest judgment,” Liew said after the ruling, adding that while the decision won’t bring her husband home, it offers “somewhat a vindication and closure” for the family.

The multimillion-ringgit settlement is expected to be the largest payout ever issued by the Malaysian judiciary. It will be held in a trust fund, with Liew and her children named as likely beneficiaries.

Extremist Views Allegedly Motivated Operation

Behind the abduction lies an ugly motive. Internal reports—classified until recently—suggest that rogue officers from the police Special Branch targeted Koh because of suspicions he was proselytizing to Muslims, a practice outlawed in Malaysia.

The official rationale? The operation leader allegedly held extreme biases against both Christians and Shia Muslims—two groups who find little favor among the nation’s Sunni religious authorities.

Of course, Koh's family denies such claims entirely. And even if such suspicions existed, civil, legal nations don’t resolve religious disagreements with a kidnapping squad.

Another Family Wins Justice—But Still No Answers

Remarkably, this isn’t the only recent case to expose the heavy hand of Malaysia’s deep state. The court simultaneously ruled against the government in a similar abduction of Amri Che Mat, a Muslim activist believed to be taken due to his Shia beliefs.

His wife, Norhayati, was awarded 3 million ringgit after the court found the same state entities responsible. Yet even with the ruling, the pain isn’t gone.

“The feeling of sadness remains because questions about Amri’s whereabouts, whether he is alive, dead, or in good health, are all still unanswered,” Norhayati said. She added simply: “We sincerely hope that those responsible will be held accountable for what they have done.”

Government Faces Pressure To Investigate Further

The High Court didn’t just hand down financial compensation—it also ordered a renewed investigation into Koh’s disappearance, demanding authorities find and disclose his whereabouts.

The facts were never hidden. CCTV and multiple witnesses documented the abduction as it unfolded in broad daylight. From the very start, it had the look of an official op, not a random crime.

Malaysia’s own human rights commission and internal government reviews concluded both men had likely been taken by the Special Branch—yet officials buried those findings for years.

Attorney General's Appeal Raises Eyebrows

Now, instead of acting on that judgment, Malaysia’s Attorney General’s Chambers has announced plans to appeal. It’s a move that reeks of damage control more than justice.

After all, if you’ve been cleared of wrongdoing, you don't need to appeal. And if you haven’t, why wouldn’t you want to solve the mystery of a missing citizen taken under suspicious circumstances?

The clock is still running on those daily damages. Perhaps that, more than morality or duty, will finally bring the truth to light.