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15 March 2016

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Makaysiakini

Video of ABC reporter shows no security cordon breach

A video of the Australian journalist Linton Bresser questioning Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in Kuching last Saturday showed that the journalists did not breach any security cordon, as claimed by police.

Bresser, who is attached to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) programme ‘Four Corners’, had joined a group of press photographers who crowded around Najib as he got out of his car to enter a Kota Sentosa mosque.

The smiling PM was also surrounded by minders, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri and police.

“Hello Mr Prime Minister, it’s ABC Australia. I’m wondering if you could explain the hundreds of million in your account?” Bresser asked, but was ignored by Najib who continued walking with a stone face.

“Hello, Mr Prime Minister, can you explain all the hundreds of million of dollars in your account? Mr Prime Minister?” the reporter asked again.

At this point, the police, who were previously heard muttering ‘Apa ni?’ (What is this?) in an irritated tone, stepped in to ask Bresser who he was.

The reporter then explained that he was “just a journalist here for a press conference”.
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The 58-second footage released by ‘Four Corners’ on its Vimeo account showed that the journalist did not “aggressively” approach Najib, as claimed by Sarawak criminal investigation department chief Dev Kumar.

“Who are you, what are you trying to do? No, no, no. Take him away. Where is CID?” a police officer is heard saying.

When Bresser explained that he was a journalist, the police officer was heard saying: “What is your identity? We don’t know about you? Get out.”

Bresser and ABC camera operator Louie Eroglu were arrested that night.

The authorities later said the duo will be charged under the Penal Code for obstructing a public officer from doing his duty.

However, the authorities decided to deport them instead for breaching immigration law for entering Sarawak as tourists for working purposes.

https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/333951

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PETALING JAYA: In a latest twist of events, Australian journalists Liston Besser and Louie Eroglu will not be charged in court on Tuesday after all.

Sarawak CID chief SAC Dev Kumar said in a text message late Monday that the court appearance by the duo has been “cancelled”.

“No charges. I may give a statement later in the morning. Need to get the exact facts first,” he said.

It was reported earlier that the journalists from Australian Broadcasting Channel (ABC) were to be charged at 8.30am at the magistrate’s court in Kuching.

Earlier, Kumar had said that the charges would only be made known when the two were produced in court.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/03/15/aussie-court-case-cancelled/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

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13 March 2016

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Malay Mail Online ‏@themmailonline

Aussie news outlet says crew arrested here over coverage of ‘local political issue’

 

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(P.I. Bala’s widow, “Najib and Rosmah, I’m sorry.”)

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The two journalists had on Saturday afternoon attended a press conference in Petaling Jaya organised by Pertubuhan Minda dan Social Prihatin Malaysia (Minda) before flying off to Kuching later.

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PETALING JAYA – Journalists from Australian news network ABC were detained in Malaysia on Saturday night before being released the next morning.

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.

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

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.

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

http://eng.mynewshub.cc/2016/03/13/australian-journalists-detained-in-kuching/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mynewshub-English+%28MyNewsHub+-+English%29

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13 March 2016 | MYT 12:06 PM

Sarawak CID chief: Australian journalists were arrested for defying police orders at PM event

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 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.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/03/13/sarawak-cid-chief-australian-journalists-arrested-for-defying-police-instructions/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

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