Arrested Development: Detention Confirmed

Technorati tags: Police, Intimidation, PDRM, Harassment, Politics, PKR, Nathaniel Tan

Related post: Arrested Development

Update @ 0309hrs: Freelunch2020 has just broken her silence and gives a detailed account of the events surrounding the arrest and detention of Nathaniel Tan. After a day's wild goose chase, with Nat's lawyer being told that he was being held under the Penal Code, then told that it was the OSA, confirmation was gotten at 10:30pm last night that it was under Section 420 of the Penal Code for "cyber crimes". It appears that a police report had been filed against Nat, for a comment left on his blog jelas.info. Freelunch2020's last paragraph is rather chilling:

After witnessing tonite's events, this writer feels whether Penal Code, OSA or ISA, at any time if the Order is given, anyone can be arrested and even disappear.
(source: Freelunch2020)

Original post:

Poster courtesy of Mob's Crib

Last night, Malaysiakini carried an updated report confirming that Nathaniel Tan had indeed been taken into custody (updated at 2230 hrs July 13).

Based on the report, he is being held to assist in the investigation of an undisclosed case under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

"According to the police, Tan will be held for 24 hours by the Cyber Crime Unit in Jalan Dato Onn to facilite investigation under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

Tan was later transferred to Kuala Lumpur's Dang Wangi police station and is expected to be brought before a magistrate for further remand at 4.30pm tomorrow."
(source: Malaysiakini [subscription required])

Moments ago, Walski has just read from the blog of Cheryl Tan (Nat's sister), that the "arrest is over some matter which has already been cleared up". All this is confusing to say the least. Having said that, via Cheryl's latest update, Walski is relieved to know that Nathaniel is okay - although he didn't get the sandwiches he wanted.
(relief, and more, in the full post)

What will be interesting to see is if any of this gets reported in the mainstream media, and if it does, whether any spin would be added to it. Call Walski cynical... well, okay, Walski's cynical.

Needless to say, Walski's prayers and well-wishes go to Nat, his family and of course, his dear significant other...

Stay tuned to myAsylum for further updates, as and when they occur.