Businessman arrested after failing to show up in court

PUTRAJAYA: Perak Malay Chamber of Commerce president Datuk Sabri Ahmad Tah who was sought by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) after he failed to show up to face charges for cheating in court was arrested by the commission here today.
The MACC said the 47-year-old man was held at 4pm when he turned up at the commission's headquarters here and investigations will continue on a cheating case he was to be charged for two months ago.
The commission said investigators are yet to seal or freeze Sabri's assets and accounts.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki said a thorough probe is ongoing and investigators will record the businessman's statements before further action is taken.
Sabri is expected to be taken to the Putrajaya magistrate's court tomorrow for investigators to obtain a remand order to detain him for further investigations.
The case involved the development of land in Perak and the supply of building material in 2014.
Sources revealed that Sabri who is a director of Semarak Sinergi Sdn Bhd was sought for allegedly duping a businessman of RM150,000.
The payment was purportedly for securing the said work contract of supplying construction material such as sand for development in Kampar involving more than 250 acres of land.
It is learnt that on concluding the probe, the MACC's prosecution department gave investigators the greenlight to charge Sabri for cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code two months ago.
However, when he was untraceable, the commission released his photo to the media to trace his whereabouts.