I was eventually made to understand that I was arrested in connection to accusations made on the internet regarding Datuk Johari Baharum.
The connection to me was based on a comment made on my blog that was made by an anonymous commentor on the 10th of Februrary, 2007.
It was prepostorous of the police to suspect me of publishing these accusations based on documents protected by the Official Secrets Act that were supposedly in my posessesion. There is absolutely nothing even remotely resembling proof to substantiate such claims.
[...]
On Saturday itself, a senior officer employed physical means in an attempt to intimidate me into answering their questions. This included shoving me into a chair while I was standing handcuffed.
Although I had stated my intent to exercise my right to silence, and despite my lawyer’s argument that the police had all the evidence they required to investigate me, the police’s insistence on holding me for all four days proved a complete waste of my time and of police resources. I was also made to endure unhygenic and pitifully substandard accomdations in the lockup throughout this time.
[...]
Armed at last with the knowledge that I had been seeking since Friday, I was more than happy to provide all the information I had available to the police.
The entire ordeal for both myself and the police could have been avoided if the police had extended some basic human courtesy and decency in allowing me to consult fully with legal counsel before cooperating with the police, which I was more than happy to do under fair and reasonable circumstances.
[...]
I fear greatly that my arrest despite the non-existent ties between the accusations against Datuk Johari and myself portend badly for Malaysia’s abilty to deal with true cyber crime.
The fact that I appear to be the best suspect they could arrest in relation to this case indicates that the police do not understand how the internet works, and are at a complete loss as to how to handle true cyber crime.
It's also worth pointing out Nat's perspective on the work of civil society in the context of his experience:
The police were extremely concerned that they might be portrayed in a bad light after my release, and took a number of steps to ensure that they did not do things that they knew would be taken up and publicised by activists. I am thus extremely grateful for the efforts of those that have fought before me to make Malaysia a more just and secure place for its citizens.
Suaram has released the following statement urging people to continue voicing their concerns and calling for people to hold the government accountable.
PKR staff and blogger Nathaniel Tan released on police bail
People's Juctice Party (PKR) Information Bureau staff and blogger, Nathaniel Tan, was released on police bail after his four-day remand expired on 17 July 2007. However, Tan's laptop and desktop computer, which were siezed during his arrest, have not been returned to him.
Tan was arrested on 13 July 2007 by police officers from the Commercial Crime Departmrnt of the police force following a police report lodged in relation to an anonymous posting in his blog alleging a 5 million ringgit bribe received by the Deputy Internal Security Minister, Johari Baharum, in exchange for the release of three triad leaders under the Emergence Ordinance (EO). According to the police, Tan was arrested for investigation under Section 8 of the Official Secrets Act (OSA) in relation to wrongful communication of official secret.
A judicial revision was filed by Tan's lawyers on 16 July 2007 against the four-day remand order approved by the Magistrate Court. The Kuala Lumpur High Court has set 13 August 2007 to hear the case for the revision.
We thank you for your support and urge you to cotinue to send protest letters to the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Inspector-General of the Police and express your concerns on the abuse of powers by the police. This arrest is a clear attempt to supress freedom of expression, especially among bloggers, and is a form of harrasment and blatant abuse of powers by the police.
Please write to:
Dato' Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi
Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Security
Prime Minister's Office Malaysia
Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 PUTRAJAYA,
Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel : + 60 3 8888 6000
Fax : + 60 3 8888 3444
Tan Sri Musa Hassan
Inspector-General of Police
Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia
Bukit Aman
50560 Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia
Tel: 03 2262 6222
Fax: 03 2273 9602
In solidarity,
SUARA RAKYAT MALAYSIA