GEORGE TOWN: Rapper Namewee was released on police bail at about 2.47pm today, following the police's failure to detain him further for allegedly insulting Islam.
The 33-year-old from Johor, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, left the northeast district police headquarters in a red car driven by his friends today without stopping to talk to the media.
Wee's lawyer, T. Tharuma, later criticised the police for continuing to restrain the rapper despite being told to free him.
"The registrar already ordered for his release this morning, yet they still took my client in handcuffs, this is contempt of court," he told reporters.
Wee was brought to the Penang court complex at about 8.45am today and waited in the detention area for three hours before he was brought to another lockup for the remand extension.
He was taken to the northeast district police headquarters after the remand extension was rejected and the assistant registrar ordered for his release.
Wee, who was handcuffed throughout, is being investigated over a music video titled Oh My God that was filmed in various houses of worship in the state including a mosque.
He was remanded for four days from Monday after he was brought to Penang on Sunday night following his arrest at the KLIA upon returning from abroad.
Police are investigating the case under Section 295 of the Penal Code that pertains to defiling a place of worship with intention to insult the religion.
The law allows for a jail term of up to two years, a fine or both upon conviction. Source