Police have remanded blogger Nathaniel Tan for four more days to investigate him under Section 8 of the Official Secret Act (OSA), according to lawyer Latheefa Koya. Nat was alleged to possess documents relating to corruption charges against the deputy minister of internal security.

CIJ was told that the police's investigation arises from a comment left on Nathaniel's blog about Johari, who was mired in allegations of accepting bribery for the release of high-profile criminals. Johari was recently cleared of the charge by the Anti-Corruption Agency. It was said that someone made a police report against Nathaniel over the posting.

Section 8 of OSA penalizes possession and communication of official secret. OSA is a widely criticized law because its definition of state secret allows unlimited amount of information to be classified. A person found guilty under OSA can receive a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or hefty fines.

Nathaniel, also known as Nat, was detained on 13 July by three plainclothes policemen. He was held incommunicado for six hour before policemen confirmed they have taken him and allowed his family members and lawyers to meet him.

The People's Justice Party (PKR), which website Nat maintains, lodged a police report and issued a statement protesting the detention of Nat. PKR members, Nat's friends and family members were reported to hold a protest at the compound of Bukit Aman police headquarter on the night Nat was arrested.

CIJ urges the police to immediately release Nat and stop harassing bloggers. We urges member of the public to write to the IGP to demand for Nat's release.