Lawyer Latheefa questioned the need for police to open a criminal investigation as it is a civil matter, and also the necessity for them to request a remand order against her client.
Police last night picked up a 48-year-old beverage company assistant manager in Kuala Lumpur to facilitate an investigation into a social media post, which alleged a private secretary to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was styling expensive jewellery and clothes.
Lawyer Latheefa Koya, who is representing the man, said her client was picked up at his mother’s house in Lembah Pantai at about 10pm last night and taken to the Putrajaya district police headquarters.
According to her, the investigating officer said police have opened an investigation under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, and Section 500 of the Penal Code for criminal defamation.
Police in an update to the media this afternoon said they have secured a three-day remand order against the man to facilitate the investigation into the case.
Latheefa also questioned the need for police to open a criminal investigation as it is a civil matter, and also the necessity for them to request a remand order against her client.
“This morning, I was informed by the investigating officer that the police were requesting a four-day remand order against him.”
“It’s unnecessary for the police to request for a remand order against my client, as he has been cooperating. They can just record his statement,” she told Malaysiakini.
Latheefa also criticised the police for using its resources to investigate a civil matter between two individuals.
She said such an accusation against a private secretary to the prime minister is not a matter of national security.
“Whoever is aggrieved over any posting which they think is not true or defamatory, they should take civil action.”
Malaysiakini has contacted the police to request their response to Latheefa’s comments. – Malaysiakini