KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 — Controversial blogger Papagomo has been arrested today in connection with the alleged assault on Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
Utusan Online said the blogger, whose real name is Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, was arrested at his home in Danau Kota, Setapak, at 3pm.
Earlier today, Selangor Police Chief Datuk Noor Azam Jamaludin, said Wan Muhammad Azri, who is also an Umno Youth Exco, are among two individuals who were called this morning to help with the investigation related to the incident.
Syed Saddiq, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia youth chief, had lodged two police reports on the incident, with one alleging that Wan Muhammad had supposedly choked him while he was making his way back to his car after visiting the nomination centre for the Semenyih by-election yesterday.
Police have since opened investigation papers into the incident and will investigate the incident under Section 353 of the Penal Code for using criminal force to deter public servants from carrying out their duties.
The second report, however, will be investigated under Section 147 and Section 323 of the Penal Code respectively for rioting and deliberately causing injury.
Wan Muhammad has denied that he had put his hands around Syed Saddiq’s neck.
“I only went up to him and said ‘You are stupid’ while hugging his shoulder because I did not want anything untoward to happen,” he said in an Utusan Online report.
He also said he will sue Syed Saddiq for defaming him, adding that he had video evidence that he did not assault the minister.
The incident had garnered massive social media response from both sides of the political divide.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on his Facebook page today urged members of the public to come forward with video evidence.
“Who has pictures of video clips that shows Wan Muhammad Azri (or known as Papagomo) chocking Syed Saddiq?
“What I saw are pictures of Azri hugging his shoulder.
“There were many other witnesses yesterday. There must be clearer pictures and videos,” he said.
