Remand application on sedition charge for PSM sec-gen rejected

S. Arutchelvan being picked up from his home in Kajang on Thursday. -filepic

PETALING JAYA: An application for a four-day remand for Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S. Arutchelvan over alleged seditious remarks was rejected on Friday.

He will be released from the Dang Wangi police station at 7pm, after magistrate Muzlina Mohamad Jamil rejected the police’s application for a four-day remand.

PSM youth chief K.S. Bawani, who is one of the lawyers representing Arutchelvan, confirmed his release when contacted.

“Arul will be released at 7pm,” she said. 

Kuala Lumpur CID chief Senior Asst Comm Zainuddin Ahmad confirmed that Arutchelvan would be released on police bail later this evening.

"The case is still on going.

"He will be summoned to a designated police station from time to time as per the condition of the police bail," he said when contacted on Friday. 

Police picked Arutchelvan up from his home in Kajang on Thursday evening and also confiscated his computer, modem, and mobile phone.

He had reportedly made a Facebook posting condemning the judiciary following Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy conviction on Feb 10. 

Arutchelvan is also alleged to have criticised Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar for arresting political cartoonist Zunar over remarks he made on the Federal Court’s judgement. 

Earlier, supporters gathered outside the police station to protest against Arutchelvan's  arrest. 

He was represented by lawyers Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, Latheefa Koya, Amer Hamzah, New Sin Yew, and Bawani.