KUALA LUMPUR: American singer Maggie Lindemann’s claim that she was arrested for five days in Malaysia is false, Immigration Department director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said today.
In a statement, Khairul said Lindemann was detained for less than 24 hours on June 21 at 9.30pm and released at 7pm the next day.
“The Immigration Department would like to stress that the claim that the subject (Lindemann) was arrested for five days is false and incorrect,” he said.
On June 21, Lindemann performed at an entertainment outlet The Bee, Publika, but was arrested midway through her act.
Aside from her, two other Americans and two Malaysians were also arrested during 'Ops Bersepadu' conducted by the Immigration Department.
On July 4 Lindemann tweeted on the arrest saying that she was detained and had "spent the next 5 days confined in a living hell".
According to Khairul, the arrests were made under the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) for performing without the approval of Central Agencies Committee for Applications for Filming and Performances by Foreign Artistes (Puspal).
“On June 22, the investigation officer (IO) involved recorded the statements of all those arrested and the two Malaysians were released on police bail at 4pm.
“The Americans were also released the same day at 7pm. However, the items seized were held by the IO to complete the Investigation Paper (IP) to be submitted the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP).
“After the IP referred to the DPP on June 24, all of the Americans arrested have been fined RM300 each for the offense under Rule 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for abusing their social visit pass,” he said.
Khairul added that the items seized were eventually returned to their respective owners on June 25.
After Malaysia, the Texas-born singer was due to make stops in Vietnam and Singapore, but has since cancelled them.