Mistaken As Terrorists, Malaysian TV Producer And Crew Detained In UK For 48 Hours
Malaysian TV producer Farihin Abdul Fatah was detained for 48-hour in a UK prison. According to reports, his 'appearance' raised doubts among certain quarters in UK which led to his arrest there.
By Sadho Ram — 28 Sep 2014, 05:42 PM — Updated about 10 years ago
Earlier this week, Malaysian TV producer Farihin Abdul Fatah and his crew of six members, who are in UK to shoot a documentary film, were detained and placed in prison for 48 hours upon their arrival by the UK police on the suspicion of being 'terrorists'
Farihin and his crew members were detained in a lockup in United Kingdom for 48 hours
Image via twimg.comHis appearance has raised doubts and for Farihin Abdul Fatah who is in United Kingdom to shoot a documentary, he has to pay a heavy price for growing a beard. The freelance TV producer, along with six of his production crew, was detained and placed in prison for 48 hours, as suspected terrorists in a prison near Manchester.
The crew members, whose agonies started merely minutes after their arrival in the UK, were instructed to unload their luggage to be inspected by the cops, according to a report by Astro Awani
“We were shooting and still filming at present,” Farihin told Astro Awani. “We had just arrived in Holyhead, Wales, from Ireland at approximately 12.20am and just as were queuing to complete the immigration cards, we were captured by a total of 20 policemen and police dogs.”
themalaysianinsider.com
Farihin and his crew were each given some forms to fill, and then were charged under Schedule 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2000
The crew members were instructed to unload their luggage to be inspected by the police before they were each given some forms to fill. “After four hours of waiting, a police officer came, passed us uniforms to wear and said that we were arrested as suspected terrorists.
thestar.com.my"It was dodgy and the arrest has left us puzzled," said Farihin, adding that the arrests were due to the crew’s caravan allegedly containing a type of chemical believed to explosives. Farihin and the rest of the crew members were charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act 2000.
While speaking to Astro Awani, Farihin said that he and his crew were not allowed to contact their family by mobile although he managed to send two messages to his wife and some close friends to inform them of their arrests before being taken to prison
Local television producer Farihin Abdul Fattah who is in the United Kingdom filming a documentary
Image via therakyatpost.comDuring the interview he also revealed that the crew was deprived of using their mobile phones to contact their family members. “The other of my crew members are British and their families were terrorised after they failed to contact us,” said Farihin, adding that he was not granted access to contact his family members or the Malaysian embassy in the UK.
Farihin said he managed to send two messages to his wife and some close friends to inform them about their capture before they were hauled to prison.
thestar.com.myWhile they were treated fairly in prison as meals were provided along with prayer mats and copies of the Al-Quran, Farihin said he was denied access to the Malaysian embassy in the UK
According to Astro Awani, Farihin and his crew were represented by duty solicitors while in custody. Farihin, who is currently in London to complete the documentary was interviewed on Astro AWANI 7.45pm bulletin, where he shared his experience of being kept captive in United Kingdom.
themalaysianinsider.com
Farihin is the face behind the success of Malaysia's popular nasyid group Raihan
Nasheed group originally composed of five members that took Malaysia by storm with the release of their debut album Puji-Pujian in October 1996
Image via blogspot.comFarihin is also well-known for having produced the best-selling album Puji-Pujian by local nasyid group Raihan back in the 1990s.
therakyatpost.com