THE 23-year-old man who was arrested for allegedly threatening Reform Party chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam was a temporary clerk at Singapore Press Holdings (SPH).

Responding to queries yesterday, an SPH spokesman said: "A temporary staff member is being investigated for a criminal offence which has no bearing on or related to SPH. He has since resigned, and we have accepted his resignation."

Sources said the man was an administrative assistant with ST701, a classified ads website. He has not been charged yet.

He was arrested on Wednesday after a police report was lodged by Mr Jeyaretnam last week.

The police confirmed that he has been released on bail.

The threats, via e-mails, targeted Mr Jeyaretnam's London-based wife and teenage son. They were sent after the politician joined the race in the Punggol East by-election.

The arrested man is being investigated for criminal intimidation under the Penal Code.

If found guilty, he faces a fine or a jail term of up to two years, or both.

TESSA WONG AND TOH YONG CHUAN