Report: Fugitive sex blogger Alvin Tan not in Singapore

SINGAPORE - The hunt is on for Malaysian sex blogger Alvin Tan after he jumped bail. But contrary to media reports, The Straits Times understands that he is currently not in Singapore.

Tan's lawyer Chong Joo Tian said his client was supposed to have returned his passport to the Malaysian police on June 3, after a trip here in May to film a documentary.

However, attempts to reach him since June have been unsuccessful, Chong told The Straits Times.

His partner Vivian Lee, who is also being represented by Chong, does not know his whereabouts either.

"His mother tried to contact him, we also tried to call him, but his mobile phone was switched off, and we still don't know where he is right now," said Chong.

Interpol is on the hunt for the sex blogger to get him to return to Malaysia and face trial over several charges against him.

Tan, 26, and his co-blogger Lee, 25, claimed trial last year to three charges under the Film Censorship Act, Sedition Act and the Penal Code.

The two - famously known as the Alivivi pair - still face two charges under the Film Censorship Act and Sedition Act for a "Ramadan greeting" that was posted on their blog last year.

The posting contained the words Selamat Berbuka Puasa (dengan bak kut teh... wangi, enak, menyelerakan) and was placed over their pornographic images.

That posting caused a stir among Malaysians for their insensitivity.

Following the uproar, they removed the posting and replaced it with a picture of them eating ketupat, rendang and curry puffs.

Sessions Court judge Abdul Rashid Daud granted an application on May 12 this year by the pair to have their passports released so that they could shoot a documentary in Singapore.

The judge granted them the period between May 18 and June 3.

The court has since issued a warrant of arrest for Tan and last Friday, forfeited the RM20,000 bail that was imposed on him after he failed to return his passport.