PKR election officer in Julau 'cyber attack' probe released by cops

PKR POLLS | The PKR election officer arrested yesterday over the alleged "cyber attack" on the party polls for the Julau division has been released from police custody.

A police source with knowledge of the investigation said that the suspect – an IT officer in charge of the e-voting system being used in the PKR election – was released from the Sibu police headquarters at 5.15pm today after his statement was recorded.

"He was arrested at Sibu airport at about 9am, and was brought to the police headquarters, where an investigating officer from the Commercial Crime Investigation Department of the Sarikei police probed him," said the source.

The source also told Malaysiakini that although the suspect was released, his laptop, mobile phone and a pen drive remain in the custody of the police.

Polling for the Julau division was disrupted yesterday after PKR deputy presidential candidate Rafizi Ramli claimed that "malware" had been installed on the tablets used to vote in the election.

There were claims that a PKR election officer had been seen manipulating the tablets to install an application named Prey.

Subsequently, the party's central election committee moved to suspend the results from the Julau division.

Incumbent Julau PKR chief Semana Sawang, however, disputed Rafizi's version of events.

A tech expert later rubbished claims that Prey is malware, and insisted that it is a well established anti-theft application which companies use to protect their devices.

When contacted, PKR election committee director Rashid Din said the Julau polls were still being investigated. -Mkini