Uncle Seekers re-arrested for investigation under Sedition Act

(Bernama) - Police have re-arrested paranormal researcher Syed Abdullah Syed Hussein Al-Attas, better known as Uncle Seekers, following the expiry of the remand order against him over postings on his blog www.uncleseekers.blogspot.com that were alleged to be defamatory of Sultan Johor Sultan Ibrahim.

Johor deputy police chief Datuk Ismail Yatim said Syed Abdullah said Syed Abdullah was re-arrested shortly after he was freed on police bail at 7pm at the Nusajaya police station to facilitate investigations under the Sedition Act 1948, following a police report lodged against him by a 34-year-old man on July 4.

"Syed Abdullah was released yesterday after investigations against him under Section 8(1)(d) of the Official Secrets Act 1972 were completed. The investigation papers on the case have been forwarded to the Public Prosecutor for further action.

"He, however, was re-arrested under Section 4 (1) of th Sedition Act 1948 in connection with 64 entries in his blog and police today were granted a court order to have him remanded for three days until Saturday," he told reporters at the Johor police headquarters here.

Ismail said Syed Abdullah's girlfriend, who was also remanded together with the researcher, was released yesterday under police bail and that police were now investigating two more friends of Syed Abdullah, who have been placed on remand at the Jalan Pantai Kundor police station in Tanjung Kling, Melaka, since July 8.

Earlier today, Syed Abdullah, who was in lock-up attire, was brought to the Johor Baharu court complex by Nusajaya police at 1:50pm before being brought out of the magistrate's chambers at around 4pm.

The remand application was made before Magistrate Maslinda Selamat. Syed Abdullah was represented by counsel D Thiru Kumar.

Syed Abdullah, 46, was arrested together with the 26-year-old woman at the Senawang Toll Plaza in Negeri Sembilan at 9.45pm on July 4.

On July 1, 30 individuals had lodged police reporters against Syed Abdullah for allegedly defaming the sultan in the blog entries.