Chimpanzee Drawing Fahmi Set For Release This Evening Lawyer

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Graphic artist Fahmi Reza is expected to be released from lock-up this evening following his arrest in connection with his drawing of a cartoon chimpanzee dressed like a sultan.
His lawyer Rajsurian Pillai said registrar Fatin Hamim denied a request for a four-day remand order against Fahmi, who is being held at the Dang Wangi district police station lock-up.
"The investigating officer requested for a four-day remand against the accused (Fahmi) under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
"After listening to submissions from both parties, the registrar only granted one day remand," Rajsurian tweeted.
The remand hearing was held at the lock-up where Fahmi (above) was detained overnight.
"He is expected to be released this evening at around 4pm or 5pm," his lawyer told Malaysiakini.
Fahmi on Wednesday (April 13) posted on social media a drawing of chimpanzee Mojo Jojo, a villain from “The Powerpuff Girls” cartoon show, dressed in attire and headgear akin to a sultan.
About three hours later, he posted a statement saying “if we can accept and not restrict satirical works which compare others to apes, we should also accept and not restrict the satirical works of others that compare ourselves to apes.”
The statement was posted across his social media accounts, including in the comment section of the chimpanzee drawing.
While Fahmi did not mention anyone specifically, it is believed he was responding to news of Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah purchasing a painting that depicts MPs as monkeys, apes, and frogs. - Mkini

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