Police deny Namewee's allegations on poor lock-up condition

Penang police Thursday denied allegations by controversial rapper Namewee that the Bayan Baru central lock-up, near here, where he was remanded, was in a poor condition.

State police chief Datuk Abdul Ghafar Rajab, hence, wants Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, 33, to lodge a police report over his claims so that a thorough investigation could be carried out.

"There is a standard operating procedure (SOP) adopted by the police...detainees who are sick will be sent to hospital.

"If his allegations are true, lodge a police report and the police will investigate. The central lock-up can accommodate 280 detainees at any one time and the cells are of various sizes," he said.

Abdul Ghafar was speaking to reporters after the handing-over of duties of the outgoing Penang deputy police chief Datuk A.Thaiveegan to his successor, Datuk Roslee Chik.

Namewee who was remanded for four days from Aug 23 for investigation into a music video which allegedly insulted Islam, claimed that he was placed with 15 other detainees from Myanmar, who had spent 30 days in detention.

Namewee through his Facebook account on Aug 27, claimed they were detained in a small room that was in a deplorable state and that some of the foreign detainees might die in custody without having been given the necessary medical attention.

Abdul Ghafar said he had no idea of why Namewee made such allegations after the police had treated him well during his remand.

He said the investigation into Namewee's video clip case was still ongoing and so far, police had recorded statements from 15 individuals including Penang Mufti Datuk Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor.

The 4.05-minute video depicting four men singing in Mandarin has angered the public for allegedly insulting Islam.