KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Embassy in Riyadh has confirmed the detention of a Malaysian citizen in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Since his detention, the Malaysian Embassy and the Malaysian Consulate General in Jeddah have provided consular assistance to the Malaysian citizen, who is believed to be a popular comedian.
When contacted by BH, the Malaysian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed the detention but did not provide detailed information on the identity of the detained individual.
"For various reasons, the Malaysian Embassy in Riyadh and the Malaysian Consulate General in Jeddah regret that they cannot provide further details on the matter," they said.
Earlier, the media reported that a popular comedian had been detained in Jeddah for allegedly possessing cannabis while on a pilgrimage (umrah) recently.
The comedian is believed to have been detained two months ago at Jeddah Airport and is still in custody for further investigation by Saudi authorities.
It is understood that the comedian was performing umrah with his friends but was detained after being suspected of carrying prohibited substances.
However, the comedian has been seen to remain active on social media with several new posts being uploaded, although the content is believed to be managed by his team.
Moreover, the comedian is said to be appearing in a television programme that was recorded earlier before the detention incident occurred.