THE Magistrate’s Court in Kuala Lumpur today ordered PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim’s aide Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak to be remanded for four days to help police with their enquiries into the distribution of the sex video implicating Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Another person arrested alongside Farhash in Masai, Johor, yesterday, has also been remanded for four days. Meanwhile, a third person arrested at the same time has been released.

Farhash’s lawyer Baldip Singh told The Malaysian Insight the police had originally sought a seven-day remand order against his client but the court only gave them four days.

“This morning Farhash and the two others were brought in for the remand process. We objected the police’s seven days of remand application and asked for Farhash to be released,” he said.

“After hearing our submissions, the magistrate granted a four-day remand order,” said Baldip, who is also the Perak PKR deputy chief.

Farhash – Perak PKR leader and political secretary to Anwar – was arrested last night for the production and circulation of the video.

In all, nine people have been arrested over the case, including former PKR political aide Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz.

Last month, a series of clips showing two men engaging in sexual acts were released on WhatsApp.

Haziq subsequently said he was one of the men in the videos, and that Azmin was the other.

Azmin has vigorously denied the claims, calling the affair a conspiracy to ruin his career. PKR has since sacked Haziq.

Meanwhile, Baldip questioned the police’s action in arresting Farhash and linking him to the sex video.

“During the remand procedure, the police failed to adduce any strong evidence or any basis for this investigation.

“Their excuse was that the investigation was based on Haziq’s police report last month and his admission that it is him in the video.

“They have no other evidence to link Farhash to the video,” said Baldip.

Farhash was also represented by Harjit Singh, SS Gill and Khairul Anuar Musa.

Earlier today Anwar expressed his shock over Farhash’s arrest.

“I am shocked because I am not sure why he was arrested, but police must have their own reasons to do so,” he said.

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today dismissed Haziq’s application to challenge his six-day remand order.

Haziq is being investigated for carnal intercourse against the course of nature and disseminating obscene material under the Penal Code and improper use of network facilities under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

On Saturday, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said police had identified the mastermind behind the production and circulation of the videos.

Meanwhile, police sources told The Malaysian Insight that a senior PKR official was believed to be the mastermind behind the scandal, with the aim of bringing down Azmin. July 17, 2019.