Police have obtained an arrest warrant for Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle Brown, who has been accused of being part of a conspiracy to topple Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
The warrant is in connection with offences allegedly committed under Section 124B and 124I of the Penal Code.
In a brief statement this evening, CID director Mohmad Salleh said the police would also proceed with applications to place her on the Aseanapol wanted list as well as the Interpol red notice.
Section 124B states: Whoever, by any means, directly or indirectly, commits an activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to twenty years.
Whereas 124I states: Any person who, by word of mouth or in writing or in any newspaper, periodical, book, circular, or other printed publication or by any other means including electronic means spreads false reports or makes false statements likely to cause public alarm, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years.
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE DIRECTOR OF CRIME INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT: Arrest Warrant Against Clare Rewcastle Brown
Posted by Polis Diraja Malaysia ( Royal Malaysia Police ) on Tuesday, 4 August 2015
The arrest warrant comes in the wake of police arresting several individuals from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Attorney-General's Chambers.
Among them was former MACC adviser Rashpal Singh, who supposedly met Rewcastle-Brown in London.
Those arrested have since been released but inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said more would follow and did not rule out the possibility of Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz and MACC number Mohd Shukri Abdull being questioned as well.
Rewcastle Brown, Zeti and Mohd Shukri have been accused by certain quarters of being among those involved in a conspiracy to oust the prime minister.
Also on the list was The Edge media group owner Tong Kooi Ong.
Both Sarawak Report and The Edge have published a slew of damaging articles concerning 1MDB.
1MDB funds allegations
Rewcastle Brown who is based in London, had also come under the crosshairs of Najib, who said Malaysians should not let 'white people' dictate who should be the leaders of this nation.
Both Sarawak Report and The Edge , which has since been suspended for three months, have denied any part in a plot and claimed the publications were merely exposing an alleged scam.
Sarawak Report had covered allegations of misappropriation of 1MDB funds doggedly, including claims that RM2.6 billion was deposited into Najib's private bank accounts.
Some of its allegations were based on leaked e-mail communication between PetroSaudi International and 1MDB.
Putrajaya has insisted the information used was 'tampered with' but the whistleblower portal has stood by its reports and challenged critics to sue it.
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