KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 -- In the hours following the apprehension of a suspect, before any formal charges are filed, a court process determines whether the person in custody can be held longer to facilitate ongoing police investigations.

This formal process - a remand proceeding - is an important part of the Malaysian criminal justice system in which magistrates decide if police have sufficient grounds to continue detaining a suspect.

However, because the process largely occurs out of public view except in cases of public interest, it may be unfamiliar to many.

Past instances have arisen where suspects are widely identified or speculated about online through viral footages or posts following an arrest.

However, legal safeguards remain in...