PETALING JAYA: The two Australian journalists, who were arrested on Saturday night, did not comply with police instructions during an event attended by the Prime Minister, according to Sarawak police.
Sarawak CID chief Dev Kumar (pic) said that the two Australians had crossed a security line and aggressively tried to approach Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who was on an official visit to the Darul Ehsan Mosque at Kampung Haji Baki in Sentosa.
“The incident occurred at about 8.35pm. Both of them were subsequently arrested for failing to comply with police instructions not to cross the security line,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
The duo were then brought to the Padawan police district for questioning before being released on Sunday morning.
Dev Kumar said the case was being investigated under section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of their public functions.
In a statement on its website, ABC confirmed that reporter Linton Besser and camera operator Louis Eroglu were detained in Kuching last night while attending an event graced by Najib.
Both Besser and Eroglu are part of ABC Four Corners, an Australian current affairs programme.
Related story:
Australian journalists detained in Kuching
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