KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 26 -- The High Court here has granted a stay of enforcement on the more than RM37 million in damages awarded to the family of Pastor Raymond Koh over his abduction nine years ago.

Justice Mahazan Mat Taib ruled that there were "special circumstances" to warrant the stay, which will remain in effect pending the government's appeal at the Court of Appeal, Free Malaysia Today reported.

She held that allowing the payment to proceed now would expose the government to significant financial risk.

The government had sought to suspend the judgment, arguing that the large sum involved public funds and that it would be difficult to recover the money if its appeal were to succeed.

Last year, the High Court ruled that police off...