Australian journalists detained in Kuching

PETALING JAYA: Journalists from Australian news network ABC were detained in Malaysia on Saturday night before being released the next morning after their statements were taken.  

In a statement on its website, ABC confirmed that reporter Linton Besser and camera operator Louis Eroglu were detained in Kuching while attending an event graced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. 

They had approached Najib during the event. 

Besser and Eroglu are part of ABC Four Corners, an Australian current affairs programme.

ABC said that while both were released without charge, their passports were taken and they were told not to leave the country. 

The duo had on Saturday afternoon attended a press conference here organised by Pertubuhan Minda dan Social Prihatin Malaysia (Minda) before flying off to Kuching later.      

In a drama-filled PC, the widow of the late private investigator P. Balasubramaniam apologised to the Prime Minister and his family for accusing them of her husband’s murder but later retracted her remarks.

Balasubramaniam was the PI during the murder of Mongolian interpreter Altantunya Shaariibuu.