Tuesday, 15 March 2016 | MYT 8:33 AM
Aussie journalists to be deported immediately
THE STAR
KUCHING: The two Australian journalists, who were told they would not be charged for trying to ask the Prime Minister questions on Saturday, are expected to leave the country immediately.
Their lawyer, Albert Tang, told The Star the duo from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation would be at the police station to settle their bails, after which they would be heading straight to Kuching International Airport.
State CID chief Senior Asst Comm Dev Kumar in a statement Tuesday morning confirmed that ABC's Four Corners journalists Liston Besser and Louie Eroglu would not be charged.
"Police investigation papers were submitted to the Deputy Public Prosecutor on March 14 (Monday). The next day the police received instructions from the DPP that no charges will be filed against the two.
"Instead they will be deported from the country in pursuant with Section 18 (3) (h) of the Immigration Act 1959/63," he said.
The statement was an about turn from SAC Kumar's own comments to reporters around 11pm Monday when he said the duo would be charged and Tang had been informed to produce Besser and Eroglu in court by 8.30am.
The journalists were arrested at Kota Sentosa at 8.35pm on March 12 for failing to comply with police instructions not to breach the security line during the Prime Minister's visit to a mosque.
Besser (left) and Eroglu talking to reporters at airport at 9am. Photo by ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE.
KUCHING: The two Australian journalists who were arrested for trying to ask the Prime Minister questions on Saturday are relieved with the conclusion of their "roller coaster" experience.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation's reporter Linton Besser and cameraman Louie Eroglu were deported on Tuesday after charges that they obstructed work of a public servant were dropped.
They were put on a plane to Singapore enroute to Australia.
Both were arrested at Kota Sentosa, Kuching at 8.35pm on March 12 for failing to comply with police instructions not to breach the security line during Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's visit to a mosque.
"I'm relieved it's all over but I can't really comment because we have to catch an urgent flight," Besser told reporters at Kuching International Airport.
"There's been a lot of changing events. It's been a roller coaster but it's almost over. We just have to get on this flight," he said.
"Sarawak is a beautiful place, and I hope to come back here on holiday with my family one day," he said on whether the arrest was a bad experience for him visiting the country.
"I would love to come back," said Besser.
"I can't really comment beyond that at the moment. I'm terribly sorry, as a fellow journalist I would like to but unfortunately, I can't," he said.
Besser also said that they are unsure for now on how they intend to continue pursuing their story on the political donation in the prime minister's bank account.
"We don't yet know, we are flying out of Sarawak. We don't yet know what our plans are beyond that," he said, thanking everyone for their support.
Besser said he could not comment on what was the specific question he posed to Najib.
Earlier, Besser and Eroglu were asked to go to the police station to settle their bails after they were told there would no charges against them.
In a latest twist of events, Australian journalists Linton Besser and Louie Eroglu will not be charged in court on Tuesday after all.
Sarawak CID chief SAC Dev Kumar said in a text message late Monday that the court appearance by the duo has been "cancelled".
"No charges. I may give a statement later in the morning. Need to get the exact facts first," he said.
It was reported earlier that the journalists from Australian Broadcasting Channel (ABC) were to be charged at 8.30am at the magistrate's court in Kuching.
Earlier, Kumar had said that the charges would only be made known when the two were produced in court.
Besser, a reporter, and Eroglu, a cameraman, from the ABC's Four Corners programme, are being investigated under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his duties.
They were arrested on Saturday near midnight, after attempting to question Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who was on an official visit to Kampung Haji Baki in Kuching.
On Saturday afternoon in Petaling Jaya, the duo attended a press conference organised by Pertubuhan Minda dan Social Prihatin Malaysia (Minda) before flying off to Kuching later.
In a drama-filled press conference, the widow of the late private investigator P. Balasubramaniam apologised to the Prime Minister and his family for accusing them of her husband’s murder but later retracted her remarks.
Balasubramaniam was the PI during the murder of Mongolian interpreter Altantunya Shaariibuu.
