KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman is tracking down Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown in connection with the arrest warrant issued by the Kuala Terengganu Magistrate’s Court.

       The arrest warrant was issued on Sept 23 after she failed to be in court to face a charge of defaming the Sultanah of Terengganu, Sultanah Nur Zahirah.

       Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Seri Abd Jalil Hassan said he urged those with information on her whereabouts to contact the CID's Special Investigation Unit chief Supt Junainah M. Kasbolah at 019-7051222 or investigating officer Asst Supt Khairul Ridzuan Khiruddin at 017-640 4440.

       "We are acting upon the warrant of arrest issued by the court," he said in a statement on Friday (Nov 5).

       Magistrate Nordiana Abd Aziz issued the warrant following an application by the prosecution on Sept 23. The court then set Nov 23 for mention.

       Deputy public prosecutors Engku Ahmad Rashdi Engku Abdillah, Noor Haslinda Che Seman and Nadia Zulkefli appeared for the prosecution.

       Rewcastle-Brown was supposed to appear in court on Thursday (Nov 4) to face a charge under Section 500 of the Penal Code for making disparaging statement about Sultanah Nur Zahirah in her book, "The Sarawak Report - The Inside Story of the 1MDB Expose".

       Sultanah Nur Zahirah, who filed the suit on Nov 21, 2018, claimed that the disparaging statement by Rewcastle-Brown could be taken to mean that she was involved in corrupt practices and interfered in Terengganu's administration besides using her status to influence the establishment of Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA), which later became 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

       She claimed that the statement also construed her as having helped fugitive businessman Jho Low, or Low Taek Jho, to become the adviser for TIA.