The raid on Malaysiakini by the police and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) this evening was the result of a complaint filed by the Attorney-General's Chambers.
The same complaint also led the police and MCMC making a similar call at headquarters of The Star around 6pm today, according to case brief by Criminal Investigations Department chief Zainuddin Ahmad.
The AG’s Chambers had taken offence to reports by the two publications on the transfer of deputy public prosecutor Shazalee Abdul Khairi, who was part of the investigation into SRC International by the Malaysian-Anti Corruption Commission (MACC).
Malaysiakini's article was titled "Sudden transfer for MACC prosecutor" while The Star's article was titled: "MACC prosecutor 'shocked' over sudden transfer".
The case brief said the complaint was filed by an officer with the AG’s Chambers on Nov 3 and is being investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code for criminal defamation.
"It was found the articles contained defamatory elements and a police report was lodged on the issue as there was ill-intention and it damaged the good name of the Attorney-General's Chambers," the brief states.
Computer seized from Malaysiakini
It said police, aided by MCMC, visited the offices of Malaysiakini and The Star in Petaling Jaya to investigate the said articles, the equipment used and to identify the authors involved to record their statements under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
It added that one central processing unit was also confiscated.
The raid came despite de facto Law Minister Nancy Shukri (photo) confirming yesterday that Shazalee was given an internal transfer within MACC.
Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali has insisted that Shazalee was not transferred out of the MACC.
However, Malaysiakini's article never stated whether Shazalee was transferred out or within the MACC.
Shazalee is part of the Attorney-General's Chambers and was seconded to the MACC.
Meanwhile, MCMC monitoring and enforcement chief Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin said MCMC would not disclose any details about the raids for now.
“Regarding the raids, MCMC chairman Halim Shafie will release the statement tomorrow,” Zulkarnain is quoted as saying by The Rakyat Post.
A team of 10 officers from the police and MCMC were involved in the raid on Malaysiakini.
Following discussions, the officers left around 8pm after recording a statement from Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan and seizing a computer.
-Mkini
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