Police Arrest Comedy Club Co-Founder Over Old Videos Of His Own Routines
The videos are said to have touched on racial and religious sensitivities.
By May Vin Ang — 15 Jul 2022, 11:30 AM
The 39-year-old co-founder of Crackhouse Comedy Club has been arrested for questioning over videos of his own stand-up comedy routines
According to Free Malaysia Today, the videos that can be found on social media are said to have touched on racial and religious sensitivities.
Several police reports had been lodged against him for allegedly insulting Islam.
His lawyer, Ramkarpal Singh, confirmed that his client was arrested on Thursday, 14 July.
"Yes. He is in Dang Wangi... I believe he was arrested in connection with videos of his performances that have been circulated recently," the lawyer told The Star yesterday.
The probe into the owner comes after a woman undressed on stage and allegedly insulted Islam during an open mic event at his comedy club in TTDI, Kuala Lumpur
28-year-old Siti Nuramira Abdullah and her partner, 38-year-old Alexander Navin Vijayachandran, have since been charged over the incident and for uploading a video of it online.
They both pleaded not guilty to the offences.
The comedy club owner, who was unaware of the woman's plan to pull off the stunt, condemned the act and lodged a police report on 9 July.
However, amidst investigations, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) temporarily suspended the venue instead for running without an entertainment licence. It was said the premises had only been issued a restaurant and liquor licence.
The police will be applying for a remand order for the club owner today, 15 July, for further investigation
According to Malay Mail, Royal Malaysia Police secretary Datuk Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin said investigations are being conducted under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act for the utterance of seditious remarks and under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for the improper use of network facilities.
The sedition offence is punishable by up to three years' imprisonment and a maximum fine of RM5,000 for first offenders, while the latter offence is punishable by up to one year's imprisonment and a fine of no more than RM50,000, if convicted.
