Political cartoonist Zunar has been released on police bail after being arrested earlier this morning, moments after he posted bail for nine sedition charges at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

His lawyer, Michelle Yesudas, said her client was remanded for several hours and was investigated under Section 223 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

“He has been released after several hours of questioning over a Facebook posting this morning,” she told Malaysiakini.

It is understood that Zunar or his real name, Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque was arrested by police this morning over an alleged picture of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak wearing lock-up clothes.

Michelle also said Zunar’s handphone was confiscated this morning as well, when he was hauled up outside the Duta courts.

“It is ridiculous that they do this to him, just finished the case and they haul him in again. This is the second phone of his that they are confiscating,” she added.

This morning, Zunar was charged with nine counts of sedition over nine tweets he made criticising the judiciary for upholding the conviction of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Zunar made bail at about 12.20pm and was given half an hour to have lunch before he was taken away by the police. He was not handcuffed.

All nine charges will be tried together, while bail has been set at RM2,500 for each charge, for a total of RM22,500. If found guilty, he faces up to 43 years in jail. Judge Zanol Rashid Hussain has set May 20 for case mention.