The police today launched its probe on malaysiakini by recording a statement from an editor of the online news portal over a report which the force claimed to be defamatory.

A four-man team led by DSP Victor Sanjos, from the Commercial Crimes Unit, visited malaysiakini office in Bangsar Utama this morning to serve the website with the investigation papers.

Inspector Lonie B Butek from the Kota Bahru police headquarters said that the case was being investigated under the Penal Code for criminal defamation, which carries a two-year jail term, or fine, or both, upon conviction.

He said that the six-paragraph newflash which malaysiakini published on July 28 contained a sentence which was believed to be libelous against the police.

The newsflash was a 'live report' filed by a malaysiakini reporter on the 'spray attack' incident which occurred at the Sultan Ismail Petra airport in Kota Bahru shortly after the arrival of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

According to the newsflash, a commotion started as the crowd jostled to catch a glimpse of Mahathir.

"In the ensuing moments, (ex-Umno leader) Ibrahim Ali was sprayed on the face with mace by one of the men in jackets, believed to be from the police special operations force."

The police, who were at the malaysiakini office for two hours, took a statement from malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan.

Short statement

According to Gan, it was a short statement as he was in Thailand to speak at an academic conference at Chulalornkorn University on the day the report appeared.

"They repeatedly asked me whether malaysiakini had malicious intention to defame the police. I told them it was really an honest mistake," said Gan.

"The newsflash was based on the eyewitness account of our journalist on the ground minutes after the incident. He called the malaysiakini office by mobile phone to report to the editor on what he just saw."

A six-paragraph newsflash was then written and uploaded on the website.

"However, we ran an updated report which did not mention any police involvement an hour later."

Investigating officer Butek was given copies of malaysiakini reports on the spray attack incident.

Two other editors and a journalist will have their statement recorded at the Commercial Crimes Unit headquarters in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.