Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) executive director Eric Paulsen today was called up to Bukit Aman to record statement over his tweets criticising Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
BY MELATI A. JALIL
Published: 16 June 2015 5:28 PM
His lawyer, Latheefa Koya said the human rights lawyer is being investigated under Section 504 and 505 of the Penal Code for provocation and public mischief.
“As far as we are concern, none of Paulsen’s tweets is criminal in nature nor is it offensive as it just a general opinion of someone,” Latheefa said.
On June 8, Paulsen had tweeted “Oh dear, under siege, can’t answer for 1MDB disaster-cabut to do umrah. Alim lah konon,” in response to Najib’s disappearance when Sabah was hit with earthquakes.
He had also tweeted: “Ni 2×5 dengan kit anti histeria Uni Msia Pahang” in response to Astro Awani’s tweet and report on research by Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin that the combination of Islam’s holy water (air zamzam) and black seed (nigella sativa) could be used in opiate addiction treatment.
Last week, NGO Sensible, Ethical Malaysian United Team (SEMUT) lodged a report against Paulsen in Shah Alam over the two tweets.
Meanwhile, Latheefa said the police should focus on real crimes and bigger cases like curbing the spread of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis), instead of going after people like Paulsen.
“The prime minister is not above criticism… This is clearly targeted and Eric has become an easy target for them to distract people from real issues affecting the country,” she said.
After recording his statement, Paulsen said it was mind-boggling that the police were focusing on matters like his tweets and that it raised questions on the police’s professionalism.
“Like me, I lodged a police report on death threats made against me back in January, but there is no outcome, although the real threat was made against me,” he said. – June 16, 2015.