Relief as journo released from Malaysia
ANNE Besser has told The AJN that she dropped to the ground into the foetal position and sobbed uncontrollably when she learned that her son, Jewish journalist Linton Besser, had safely left Malaysia after being detained by police.
ANNE Besser has told The AJN that she dropped to the ground into the foetal position and sobbed uncontrollably when she learned that her son, Jewish journalist Linton Besser, had safely left Malaysia after being detained by police.
Linton was in Sarawak, Malaysia, when he and his Four Corners cinematographer Louie Eroglu were arrested after they asked Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak a question about corruption.
The pair had their passports taken away, were put under house arrest in a hotel and then, after intervention from the Australian government, released more than 48 hours later.
Anne told The AJN that she was worried for her son because she understood that he was being charged by the Prime Minister directly, not the police.
“We got the phone call at midnight and immediately Mike [Linton’s father] and I were plotting our vaccinations and working out how to get to Sarawak,” Anne said. “I was in shock, I was terrified and when I found out their passports had been taken I was really concerned, but Linton was cool and calm as a cucumber.
“He was told he would have to go to court, than he was told there would be no charges, then he had to go to the police to get his passport back and we were scared he would be detained there, and then it took him forever to get through customs.”
Finally Anne she received the text message she had been dreaming about. “The last message I received was that he was in customs and I was worried that he would get stuck there.
“I was thinking the worst because obviously he, and I, didn’t feel safe until he was on the plane but then I got the text and I just dropped into the foetal position and sobbed in relief. I can’t describe how it felt. It was just amazing.”
Anne sent her personal message of thanks to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who Anne said “worked her butt off” to make sure that Linton and his cinematographer were able to safely leave Malaysia.
Bishop told The AJN on Tuesday that she raised the issue “at the highest possible level” to ensure the pair would be treated fairly.
JOSHUA LEVI
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