Penang: Penang police have clarified that there was no breach of standard operating procedures (SOP) during the detention and remand of a British tourist arrested for vandalising a parking barrier in Batu Ferringhi recently.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad stated that the 47-year-old man was held at the Bayan Baru centralised lockup, where all detainees are closely monitored by on-duty personnel. The incident began on December 8 when a parking technician lodged a police report after the suspect damaged a parking barrier with his hands, having been unable to exit the area. The event was captured on CCTV, and police arrested the British national, Ahmed Hadi, on December 9. He was remanded for four days before being charged at the George Town Magistrate's Court on December 12 under Section 427 of the Penal Code.

The Wales Online portal reported on February 11 that Hadi claimed he was 'trapped' in Malaysia after the court seized his passport as part of his bail conditions. Hadi alleged that eight weeks after the incident, his passport was still withheld, leaving him in a dilemma. He described Malaysia as a 'hell hole with no human rights,' citing overcrowded conditions in the lockup.

Hamzah explained that the tourist was granted bail of RM12,000 with three local guarantors, and his passport was submitted to the court pending the resolution of his case. Initially, the case mention was set for January 22 but was postponed to February 13. On that date, the complainant withdrew the police report after the accused paid RM1,000 in damages. The case was then classified as discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA), and Hadi's passport was returned. Hamzah emphasized that the passport was under court jurisdiction and not handled by the police.