Cops search home of suspect’s sister in royal Facebook slur probe
(FMT) — The police paid a pre-dawn visit this morning to the rented home of Asiah Abd Jalil, sister to Ahmad Abd Jalil ― the man being investigated for allegedly criticising the Johor sultan ― and searched the premises without a warrant, just hours after the family held a gathering at the landmark Dataran Merdeka here last night pushing for his release from detention.
Asiah told The Malaysian Insider four policemen had knocked on the door of her rented home in Klang at about 6.30am today and initially asked to record her family’s statements.
The family declined as they were rushing to Johor Baru where Ahmad was to be presented before a magistrate at 2.30pm today.
The police then asked to search the home she shares with her children and another brother, to which she agreed after consulting her lawyer, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri.
“They conducted a thorough search but it was done in a professional manner. They asked for permission and allowed my mother and I to cover our aurat before entering,” Asiah said over the phone as the family drove through Seremban.
“They said they were looking for something but we have no idea what they’re looking for.”
Asiah said she believed the police had gone to her Klang house because it was the address listed on Ahmad’s MyKad even though he no longer lived there, having moved to Damansara Damai recently.
Ahmad, a 27-year-old quantity surveyor was arrested at his office in Cheras on November 2 and hauled to face the Johor police for allegedly posting seditious remarks against the Johor royal house on Facebook.
Yesterday Johor CID deputy director Asst Comm Nor Azizan Anan denied that Ahmad had been forced to confess to the crime while under police interrogation.
Ahmad was remanded a further three days from Tuesday under Section 233 (1)(b) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for his alleged Facebook insult against the Johor Sultan.
Section 233 deals with an “improper use of network facilities or network service, etc”.
Section 233(1)(b) stipulates that “a person who initiates a communication using any applications service, whether continuously, repeatedly or otherwise, during which communication may or may not ensue, with or without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person at any number or electronic address, commits an offence”.
