JOHOR BARU: Two of the three senior citizens arrested by police yesterday for making “derogatory or seditious remarks” on Facebook regarding the teenage cycling tragedy here have the title of ‘Datuk’.
The two Datuks – a 61-year-old Pagoh Umno division member and a 64-year-old controversial blogger - were remanded for three days to facilitate police investigations into their social media statements.
The remand order was issued by Johor Baru magistrate court Assistant Registrar Faridatul Farrah Mohd Shukri, to allow police to investigate the duo under Section 233(1) (a) of the Multimedia and Communications Act 1998 and Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation.
In a statement, Johor police chief Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said the Facebook posts by the duo could create disunity.
"The arrests were made after a police report was lodged at 1.02pm on Saturday," he said.
The first man was arrested by police at his Villa Taman Tasek house in Bandar Sri Permaisuri, Kuala Lumpur, at 2am yesterday.
The second 61-year-old man was detained at Taman Sri Gombak, Batu Caves, Selangor, at 11pm.
Police also arrested a 65-year-old man from Ipoh, Perak, last night for posting a remark on Facebook which incited the public to join a gathering of bicycle groups in Johor, and to seek an audience with the Sultan of Johor on the gathering.
In the Feb 18 accident, eight teenagers, who were riding their modified bicycles in a group of between 30 and 40 youths, were killed, and another eight were seriously injured, when a car ploughed into them at the Inner Ring Road near the Mahmoodiah Muslim Cemetery here at about 3am.
Meanwhile, Johor Baru south police chief Assistant Commissioner Sulaiman Salleh said police will conclude their investigation on the accident soon.