Namewee freed as bid to extend remand fails

Show more reactions

The Magistrate's Court in Penang today turned down the remand extension application for rapper Wee Meng Chee sought by the police.

The police, who had obtained a four-day remand initially on Aug 22, had taken the local rapper, better known as Namewee, to the court at 8.40am.

His lawyer T Tharuma disclosed that the police had asked for another three days of remand, but Magistrate Ahmad Tajudin Zaini rejected the request as the grounds were insufficient. They then asked to hold him till 2pm today, but that was also rejected.

After the remand application failed, the police brought him back to the Jalan Patani police station.

However, the rapper was allowed to leave at 2.45pm, and was picked up by a friend with a red car.

He did not stop to talk to the media, who were waiting outside.

Wee is being investigated for the video, titled 'Oh My God', featuring him and three others. It has drawn complaints that it allegedly insulted Islam.

Northeast district police chief ACP Mior Faridalatrash Wahid said Wee was released on bail, and that the police will wait for further instructions from the deputy public prosecutor. - Mkini