Johor police have accused Patrick Teoh of not assisting in their investigation and want to seek an extension to his remand period, which ends tomorrow.
The former radio DJ has been under remand for allegedly insulting Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
Johor police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said that investigations could not be completed as Teoh was uncooperative.
He said police had initially requested a four-day remand after arresting Teoh but were only given three days.
He added that Teoh had told police that he has forgotten his email password and has lost his phone.
“He lost his phone a day before he was called in for questioning and could not remember his email password, so we will request for an extension of remand.
“It’s baffling because he could remember his password when he was making that obscene statement, but forgot everything after being arrested, so perhaps he could remember his password if he stays a bit longer with us,” he said.
Teoh, a radio personality and actor, was arrested on May 9 after two reports by two men, a software developer and contractor, were lodged on his posting.
On Saturday, a police team from the Johor police Commercial Crime Investigations Department (CCID), picked-up Teoh from the Petaling Jaya police headquarters. They also searched his Armanee Terrace apartment unit in Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya.
Police seized Teoh’s Apple Mac Book Air during the search. There was no mobile phone on him as he claimed to have lost it the day before.
The 72-year-old is believed to have shared a video clip of the crown prince in military uniform and used obscenities in his Facebook comment on it.
The post is no longer on his page.
The case is being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for the improper use of network facilities.
Meanwhile, Lawyers for Liberty questioned the need for the police to even remand Teoh for three days for further investigation, calling it unnecessary and excessive.
In the time of Covid-19, this also goes against international guidelines which, in the interest of public health, calls for a reduction in the numbers of people held in detention, said director Melissa Sasidaran.
“We therefore urge the authorities not to resort to the use of legislation which criminalises speech and undermines freedom of expression, as section 233 of the CMA does.
“We call upon the police to drop this unnecessary investigation and release Teoh without delay,” she said in a statement.
Another civil society group, Hakam, also urged the police to immediately release Teoh due to his old age, saying that confining him for remand may pose a risk to his health amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier report: May 10, Patrick Teoh Remanded for Three Days over Alleged Insults of TMJ