This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/mar/14/abc-journalists-out-on-bail-after-being-detained-by-malaysian-police
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| ABC journalists out on bail after being detained by Malaysian police | ABC journalists out on bail after being detained by Malaysian police |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Four Corners journalists Linton Besser and Louie Eroglu are out on bail and have not been charged with any offence after they were detained by Malaysian police at the weekend, the ABC news director, Gaven Morris, said on Monday. | |
| But the ABC crew remain in Malaysia with no date for departure yet. | |
| Reporter Besser and camera operator Eroglu were arrested in the city of Kuching on Saturday night after questioning Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, and their passports were confiscated. | |
| “As of this morning they are out on bail, their passports have been returned and they have not been charged with any offence,” Morris told staff. | “As of this morning they are out on bail, their passports have been returned and they have not been charged with any offence,” Morris told staff. |
| “We are in frequent contact with Linton and Louie and their families and they have legal and consular support on the ground. Although obviously not happy about this situation, they are both in good spirits and doing well.” | “We are in frequent contact with Linton and Louie and their families and they have legal and consular support on the ground. Although obviously not happy about this situation, they are both in good spirits and doing well.” |
| The Four Corners executive producer, Sally Neighbour, mounted a strong defence of her crew on Twitter after they were accused of breaching the Malaysian prime minister’s security. | |
| Neighbour said: “There was no breach. In a democracy, journalists asking the PM questions is routine.” | Neighbour said: “There was no breach. In a democracy, journalists asking the PM questions is routine.” |
| Country wit free Press doesn't mean we allow ppl breach our PM security. Imagine Msian Press breach Aus PM security? https://t.co/A7i9aQSz3L | Country wit free Press doesn't mean we allow ppl breach our PM security. Imagine Msian Press breach Aus PM security? https://t.co/A7i9aQSz3L |
| Morris also rejected any suggestion the journalists had been out of line, saying they did not “obstruct or intend to obstruct any public servants in performance of their duties”. | Morris also rejected any suggestion the journalists had been out of line, saying they did not “obstruct or intend to obstruct any public servants in performance of their duties”. |
| “They did not see a police line and do not believe they crossed one,” Morris said. “They stopped filming and left the event as soon as they were asked. They were not detained at the time but some time later when police came to their hotel. They fully cooperated with the police before and after their arrest. | “They did not see a police line and do not believe they crossed one,” Morris said. “They stopped filming and left the event as soon as they were asked. They were not detained at the time but some time later when police came to their hotel. They fully cooperated with the police before and after their arrest. |
| “We are doing everything we can to resolve this situation as quickly as possible. We are hopeful the police investigation will be concluded soon and Louie and Linton will be able to freely depart Malaysia.” | “We are doing everything we can to resolve this situation as quickly as possible. We are hopeful the police investigation will be concluded soon and Louie and Linton will be able to freely depart Malaysia.” |
| An ABC spokeswoman said the journalists had approached Najib at a public event at a mosque in Sarawak, where he was campaigning before local elections. There was a media call put out about the event and there were lots of media there. | |
| The Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, who is in Fiji, said the Australian government was “deeply concerned” about the incident. | The Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, who is in Fiji, said the Australian government was “deeply concerned” about the incident. |
| “We are providing consular support to the ABC crews and we are certainly raising the issue at the appropriate level in the Malaysian government,” Bishop told ABC Radio. | “We are providing consular support to the ABC crews and we are certainly raising the issue at the appropriate level in the Malaysian government,” Bishop told ABC Radio. |
| “The consular team are there to give them support and assistance whenever they need it. Our high commissioner in Malaysia is in contact with them.” | “The consular team are there to give them support and assistance whenever they need it. Our high commissioner in Malaysia is in contact with them.” |
| Related: More than $1bn deposited in Malaysian prime minister's account – report | Related: More than $1bn deposited in Malaysian prime minister's account – report |
| “I’m always concerned where there are instances of a crackdown on freedom of speech, in democracies particularly, and I’m also concerned about the freedom that journalists have to carry out their work in places around the world, so these are matters that we raise with governments from time to time and we certainly will with Malaysia. | “I’m always concerned where there are instances of a crackdown on freedom of speech, in democracies particularly, and I’m also concerned about the freedom that journalists have to carry out their work in places around the world, so these are matters that we raise with governments from time to time and we certainly will with Malaysia. |
| “We will do what we can to get to the bottom of this issue and make representations at the highest levels within the Malaysian government.” | “We will do what we can to get to the bottom of this issue and make representations at the highest levels within the Malaysian government.” |
| The AFP news agency reported that police said in a statement that the journalists had been arrested after they crossed a security line and “aggressively tried to approach the prime minister”. | The AFP news agency reported that police said in a statement that the journalists had been arrested after they crossed a security line and “aggressively tried to approach the prime minister”. |
| Besser and Eroglu are in the country to investigate a corruption scandal which has engulfed Najib Razak, who faces allegations that up to $1.4bn was deposited into his personal bank account. | Besser and Eroglu are in the country to investigate a corruption scandal which has engulfed Najib Razak, who faces allegations that up to $1.4bn was deposited into his personal bank account. |
| He has denied any wrongdoing. | He has denied any wrongdoing. |