Facebook insult to Johor royalty: More picked up?

The 27-year-old quantity surveyor Ahmad Abd Jalil who was purportedly detained by police on Friday night for allegedly insulting the Johor Sultan in Facebook, may have company in the coming days.

It is learnt that the police are on the lookout for more individuals connected to the post which is alleged to offend royalty.

"However, we do not know how many would be picked up in the following days," Ahmad's lawyer, Mohd Zakwan Adenan, toldMalaysiakini when contacted on Saturday.

Mohd Zakwan said Ahmad (left) will now be the lockup in Johor Baru till tomorrow.

He added that the police had initially asked for a seven day remand but the magistrate allowed it to be reduced to three days.

"It's for the police to gather witnesses and evidence and to carry out the necessary investigation," Mohd Zakwan said.

Detainee in the dark

Mohd Zakwan said that Ahmad will be produced in court tomorrow, but until then, he is in the dark as to what he is being charged with and which of his statements allegedly insulted the sultan.

Ahmad, including his family was "curious" as to how the sultan had been insulted as when the police detained him, they could not show proof as to what articles or posting in the Facebook that had led to the police reports lodged.

"When we asked the police, they told us we would be told in court on Monday. They only told us he would be charged under the Sedition Act without referring to any of its sections.

"All they could tell us was that three police reports were lodged in Johor Baru, in three different police stations, and that is why Ahmad was brought to the state," said Mohd Zakwan.

"Usually, a detainee would be remanded in the state he was detained in, and would be produced in the court in the same state," he added.

Three police reports lodged

Ahmad was detained in Kuala Lumpur and transferred to Johor on the same night after being picked up by at least 10 policemen who came to his office in Cheras at around 10pm.

The policemen, who travelled in three different vehicles, and were from three different police stations in Johor, later escorted Ahmad to the Wangsa Maju police station for questioning, said Mohd Zakwan.

Ahmad's parent's home in Damansara Damai - where he currently lives - had been raided by police, who carried out a search on all computers and laptops in the house before leaving for Johor.

Ahmad's parents, who were denied a visit to their son yesterday, is attempting to see him again today.