00:00The High Court in Kuala Lumpur on Monday allowed the government's application to stay the payment of 31 million ringgit in damages awarded to the family of Pastor Raymond Ko, who has been missing since 2017.
00:14The court said the government had established special circumstances to justify staying the payment pending appeal.
00:21The court said since Ko remains missing, he would be unable to receive the damages at this stage due to the express terms of the judgment.
00:30The court said the monies would be immobilized in a trust account, pending the outcome of the appeal or settlement of the first plaintiff's whereabouts.
00:38We are very disappointed with the judgment today.
00:46We feel that we deserve the compensation and they should uphold the judgment in the High Court.
00:58November 5th, they are actually going back on their word.
01:04I feel that it's not right and it's not fair.
01:07For us, we have waited.
01:10It's already nine years since the adoption.
01:12And five years we have filed this case.
01:18And now if we go on to the court of appeal, it will take another two to three years.
01:28And if it goes to federal court, it will be another five years.
01:31And by that time, I'll be 75.
01:34And how can I enjoy the fruit of litigation if the damages, the compensation is not rewarded to us?
01:49In November last year, the court ordered the government and the police to pay the sum after finding them liable for Ko's abduction.
01:57The award included general damages of 10,000 ringgit per day from February 13, 2017,
02:03until his whereabouts are disclosed, alongside one million ringgit in aggravated damages
02:09and another one million ringgit in exemplary damages.
02:13In 2020, Ko's wife Susanna Liu filed the civil suit against 13 defendants over his disappearance.
02:21Ko was abducted by armed men in Petaling Jaya while on his way to a friend's house.
02:33Ko was abducted by armed men in Petaling Jaya while on his way to a friend's house.
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