Blogger and PKR webmaster Nathaniel Tan had his belongings returned by the police yesterday - more than three months after his arrest in July.

Tan told Malaysiakini today that investigating officer DSP Victor Sanjos called him on Monday notifying that the police intended to return his belongings.

The items include one desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, some CDs and some documents confiscated from his house and office during his arrest.

In July, Tan was investigated for alleged breach of Section 8 of the Official Secrets Act 1972, in relation to a comment left on his blog site linking Deputy Internal Security Minister Mohd Johari Baharum to a corruption allegation.

He was kept in remand for four nights at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters and interrogated by the cyber crime division before he was released on police bail.

Tan, who met Sanjos at Commercial Crimes Department with lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad yesterday, described the meeting with the police as "cordial".

"DSP Victor was polite but surprised at the presence of the lawyer, feeling that it was unnecessary. The meeting was cordial, but all business, as DSP Victor proceeded to go through the checklist of materials.

"He appeared to indicate that there would be no further action against me, but obviously, no guarantees were given," he said.

A reminder

Noting that his items have all been marked with liquid paper, the secretary to de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim said he would be keeping them there "as a reminder of how fragile our freedoms are under the present repressive government".

Tan also said he is hesitant to use his computers and mobile phone just in case they have been bugged or tampered with, adding that he would seek expert advice on the matter.

On his court case, Tan said his lawyers have filed an appeal after the High Court dismissed the challenge to the remand order.

"There may also be some legal precedents showing that the manner in which the police held my belongings for such a long time was in fact illegal. My lawyers are studying the matter," he said.

"Paramount to all this is how to ensure such irresponsible arrests and confiscations never again happen to any Malaysian," he added.