Rapper freed on health grounds

This article is more than 12 months old

Aug 26, 2016 06:00 am

A Malaysian rapper, who was arrested for insulting Islam in a music video that was filmed inside a mosque and used the word "Allah", was freed yesterday on health grounds.

Wee Meng Chee, 33, who goes by the stage name Namewee, was arrested on Sunday over the song, entitled "Oh my God", when he landed at Kuala Lumpar airport after returning from overseas.

Police said he was being investigated for defiling a place of worship, with the intention of insulting religion, as part of the video was filmed in a mosque.

Penang district police chief Mior Faridalathrash Wahid told AFP that the magistrates court had refused to extend his arrest because Namewee had health problems. He is suffering from stomach ulcers.

Police have referred the case to the prosecution director for further action. Namewee was held for four days in Penang because the offence allegedly took place there.