The Malaysian Insight

IT is only right for police to keep a lid on the sex video case until the investigations are completed even though there are calls for the authorities to reveal if the clips are genuine, said a lawyer and transparency watchdog.

They told The Malaysian Insight that it is appropriate for police to keep things confidential for the moment as they do in most cases.

Jelutong MP RSN Rayer said if they reveal facts of the case – whether the clips were genuine and who had spread them – it will jeopardise the investigations.

“Eventually, if there is a charge against anyone, things will be revealed,” Rayer told The Malaysian Insight.

He was commenting on police’s decision not to publicise the report from CyberSecurity Malaysia, who was tasked with verifying the sex videos of Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz and of another man, said to be Economics Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Yesterday, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim urged the authorities to come out with answers soon as the people wanted to know if the sex clips of Haziq and Azmin were genuine and who arranged the leak.

Rayer said witnesses and evidence could be tampered with if the findings of CyberSecurity Malaysia are revealed too early.

“It is important for police to keep it confidential until it goes to court,” he said.

Rayer also did not believe there was a cover-up by police.

“As much as the public wants to know about this case, police have to protect the integrity of this case,” he saidsaid.

Transparency International president Muhammad Mohan agreed with Rayer.

“Our view is that as the investigation is still going on, police should be given space to complete it and forward the case to the Attorney-General’s Chambers. 

“It is too premature to expose to the public until the A-G’s Chambers decide whether to charge someone, because public perception can unnecessarily affect innocent victims,” said Muhammad.

Another lawyer Ramkarpal Singh felt that police should inform the public on the status of its investigation quickly.

“What CyberSecurity Malaysia has given to police will be part of the investigation. It’s proper for police to reveal the status of this investigation as soon as possible.

“The public wants to know whether the video is authentic or not. CyberSecurity’s investigation will answer that and that’s an important question that should be disclosed to the public,” said the Bukit Gelugor MP.

Police have so far arrested nine suspects for investigation into the production and distribution of obscene material. Among them were Haziq and PKR Perak chief Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, who is also political secretary to Anwar.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador had said police did not rule out the possibility that there was a conspiracy behind the sex videos and that those arrested so far were taking orders from someone in position.

Hamid had also said it was possible that politicians and a pressure group were involved in the case.

Last month, a series of clips showing two men engaging in sexual acts were released on WhatsApp. Haziq subsequently said he was one of the men in the videos and that Azmin was the other.

Azmin had denied the claims, calling the affair a conspiracy to ruin his career. PKR has since sacked Haziq. – July 17, 2019.