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Nine Australians detained for stripping to swimwear arrive at Malaysian court Budgie Nine: Australians detained for stripping to swimwear freed from Malaysian jail
(about 1 hour later)
Nine Australian men who stripped down to swimwear emblazoned with the Malaysian flag arrived in court on Thursday morning after spending four days in detention. Nine Australian men who stripped down to swimwear emblazoned with the Malaysian flag have been freed after spending four days in detention.
The men, aged between 25 and 29, were being held in two cells at the Sepang police station, close to the Formula One race track where they were arrested on Sunday. The men, aged between 25 and 29, were cautioned and discharged on Thursday at court near the Formula One race track where they were arrested on Sunday.
Under Malaysian law, the men can be held for four days. On Thursday, Malaysia’s attorney general’s office must seek to extend their detention but can also charge or release the men. They were charged with “public nuisance”, a crime that carries no jail time, according to Australia’s ABC correspondent Samantha Hawley. It was not immediately clear if they will have to pay a fine.
A chief investigating officer told Australia’s ABC news the men are likely to be charged on Thursday, although they could still be deported.
Large media pack swarm the 9 Australians as the arrive at Serpang court #Malaysia pic.twitter.com/20vVkjUJ0ALarge media pack swarm the 9 Australians as the arrive at Serpang court #Malaysia pic.twitter.com/20vVkjUJ0A
The Australians wore matching tightly fitted swimwear at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, a planned celebratory stunt that ended in detention.The Australians wore matching tightly fitted swimwear at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, a planned celebratory stunt that ended in detention.
The men, who have become known in Australian media as “the budgie nine”, were enjoying the Formula One win of Australian Daniel Ricciardo, also poured beer into their shoes and drank it, while being filmed by those around them.The men, who have become known in Australian media as “the budgie nine”, were enjoying the Formula One win of Australian Daniel Ricciardo, also poured beer into their shoes and drank it, while being filmed by those around them.
“Police will investigate, we choose which law is appropriate then we recommend to the attorney general to charge them under those acts,” Malaysia’s deputy home minister, Nur Jazlan Mohamed, told reporters after the act.“Police will investigate, we choose which law is appropriate then we recommend to the attorney general to charge them under those acts,” Malaysia’s deputy home minister, Nur Jazlan Mohamed, told reporters after the act.
A Muslim-majority nation, with many people holding conservative values, Malaysia is also one of south-east Asia’s most accessible business and tourist destinations. But some visitors are unaware of local sensitivities.A Muslim-majority nation, with many people holding conservative values, Malaysia is also one of south-east Asia’s most accessible business and tourist destinations. But some visitors are unaware of local sensitivities.
One of the men arrested on Sunday, Jack Walker, is an adviser to the Australian government minister Christopher Pyne. A spokeswoman for Pyne said the matter was being “handled appropriately by the Australian high commissioner”.One of the men arrested on Sunday, Jack Walker, is an adviser to the Australian government minister Christopher Pyne. A spokeswoman for Pyne said the matter was being “handled appropriately by the Australian high commissioner”.
John Walker, the father of Jack Walker, had visited his son on Wednesday and also attended court on Thursday.John Walker, the father of Jack Walker, had visited his son on Wednesday and also attended court on Thursday.
When he arrived at court, reporters asked how the conditions were for the nine at the police station. He responded they had been “awful”.When he arrived at court, reporters asked how the conditions were for the nine at the police station. He responded they had been “awful”.
“We are hopeful of bringing them home today,” he said, according the Australian.“We are hopeful of bringing them home today,” he said, according the Australian.