Ahmad Abd Jalil has been remanded for three days - up to tomorrow - to enable police to investigate him on a different charge of having allegedly insulted the Johor sultan in a Facebook posting.
Said to have been initially arrested under the Sedition Act, he is now being probed under Section 233(1)(b) of the 1998 Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act.
This deals with the ‘improper use of network facilities or network service ... with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person at any number or electronic address’.
The penalty upon conviction is a maximum fine of RM50,000 or jail term not exceeding one year. A further fine of RM1,000 is imposed for every day that the offence is continued after conviction.
Johor Baru Criminal Investigation Department deputy chief Nor Azizan Anan said the JB magistrate’s court had granted the remand order yesterday after hearing submissions from both sides.
Said to have been initially arrested under the Sedition Act, he is now being probed under Section 233(1)(b) of the 1998 Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act.This deals with the ‘improper use of network facilities or network service ... with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person at any number or electronic address’.
The penalty upon conviction is a maximum fine of RM50,000 or jail term not exceeding one year. A further fine of RM1,000 is imposed for every day that the offence is continued after conviction.
Johor Baru Criminal Investigation Department deputy chief Nor Azizan Anan said the JB magistrate’s court had granted the remand order yesterday after hearing submissions from both sides.
Ahmad was represented by lawyer Radzlan Jalaludin during the remand application hearing.
“The remand period will end on Nov 8, and during this time, the police will continue their investigations,” Azizan said in a statementissued at 7.17pm last night.
“The remand period will end on Nov 8, and during this time, the police will continue their investigations,” Azizan said in a statementissued at 7.17pm last night.
In Johor, Ahmad is represented by lawyer Radzlan Jalaludin, who accompanied him during the remand application.
Ahmad, a quantity surveyor, was first detained last Friday in Kuala Lumpur and was transferred to Johor Baru after three reports were lodged against him in the state on Oct 21 for allegedly offending the sultan.
‘Constant interrogation’
His lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fitri said Ahmad, 27, had briefly met his parents when he was produced in the magistrate’s court yesterday, and that they were told “horror stories” about his time in custody.
According to his parents, Ahmad was not aware of his whereabouts as he was “blindfolded” when taken to court, said Fadiah.
He had also allegedly been blindfolded when taken from court to a lock-up on Monday, when he was arrested on a different charge after the court ordered his release from remand, she added.
“Ahmad told his parents that he was constantly interrogated and forced to confess that he had insulted the sultan, but had refused to comply,” Fadiah said when contacted.
“Yet, until today, Ahmad has not been told how or in which posting he had offended the Johor ruler.”
When contacted, the investigating officer, named only as Azlan, would only say: “I am sorry, so sorry that I cannot comment on this.”
Ahmad’s brother said the police have assured the family of his sibling’s safety.
It is learnt that Ahmad’s family will attend the candlelight vigil at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur at 8.30pm today, to demand his release.
His lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fitri said Ahmad, 27, had briefly met his parents when he was produced in the magistrate’s court yesterday, and that they were told “horror stories” about his time in custody.
According to his parents, Ahmad was not aware of his whereabouts as he was “blindfolded” when taken to court, said Fadiah.
He had also allegedly been blindfolded when taken from court to a lock-up on Monday, when he was arrested on a different charge after the court ordered his release from remand, she added.
“Ahmad told his parents that he was constantly interrogated and forced to confess that he had insulted the sultan, but had refused to comply,” Fadiah said when contacted.
“Yet, until today, Ahmad has not been told how or in which posting he had offended the Johor ruler.”
When contacted, the investigating officer, named only as Azlan, would only say: “I am sorry, so sorry that I cannot comment on this.”
Ahmad’s brother said the police have assured the family of his sibling’s safety.
It is learnt that Ahmad’s family will attend the candlelight vigil at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur at 8.30pm today, to demand his release.
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