KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13, 2015:
Lawyer activist Eric Paulsen, who was remanded for two days since last night, is set to be released tomorrow.
The seven-man team representing Paulsen, led by PKR’s Sivarasa Rasiah, slammed police over how the investigations were being handled.
Apart from Paulsen’s handphone and laptop being taken by police, Sivarasa said police would also be searching for evidence at the Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) executive director’s house.
“This is an ill attempt by the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and an obvious misuse of power.
“They’re treating him like a criminal, like as though he robbed a bank, when all he did was tweet.” Sivarasa told reporters after attending a remand hearing at the Dang Wangi police station today.
Adding that there was no basis for the claims, Sivarasa said Paulsen was ready to defend himself should he be taken to court.
“His arrest is politically influenced and it is clear that it was an order from the higher-ups.” Sivarasa said.
Paulsen was arrested by police at 9pm yesterday to facilitate investigations into his controversial tweet on the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim).
LFL, in a tweet yesterday, said Paulsen was picked up by more than 20 policemen.
Paulsen had last Friday accused Jakim of spreading extremism every Friday via its prepared sermons.
This led to a police report, following public uproar, lodged by Umno Youth in Putrajaya.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had also called for a probe into Paulsen’s tweet.
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