PETALING JAYA: Cosmetics entrepreneur Muhammad Sajjad Kamaruz Zaman, better known as Nur Sajat, has been arrested by Thai Immigration authorities and released on bail.
Harian Metro reported that Nur Sajat was detained on Sept 8 after Thai authorities received information of her whereabouts from Malaysian authorities.
According to the Malay daily, a source said Nur Sajat had been detained along with a Thai transgender at a luxury condomimium in Bangkok by the immigration authorities.
“On June 4, Thai immigration authorities located Nur Sajat’s hiding place in Bangkok.
“After some intelligence gathering, a raid was carried out on Sept 8 around 6pm.
“Nur Sajat was arrested and checks showed she was wanted by the Malaysian authorities," the source said.
The report noted that Nur Sajat was charged in a Thai court for immigration-related offences and released on RM8,343 bail on Sept 10 that was paid by a local.
It added that Nur Sajat was also instructed to appear at a Thai immigration office every 14 days.
The report added that during a check by Thai immigration authorities, Nur Sajat’s passport was also cancelled by the Malaysian government, adding that she then handed over a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) card and claimed that she was a refugee.
“After investigations by Thai immigration authorities, Nur Sajat said she was getting approval to move to and seek refuge in Australia.
“A check found that Nur Sajat received a UNHCR card issued by its headquarters in Bangkok,” it said, adding that the agency is helping Nur Sajat secure approval to move to Australia.
The source said Nur Sajat applied for the UNHCR card and made plans to move to Australia as she claimed that she received death threats after announcing she would be leaving Islam.
She was also being pursued by Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) officers, she had reportedly claimed.
The source said Malaysian authorities are currently negotiating with the Thai government to bring Nur Sajat back to face an ongoing trial in the Syariah High Court.
Nur Sajat is wanted by JAIS for failing to show up at the court to answer charges for dressing up as a woman.
The court had issued a warrant of arrest on Feb 23 after the entrepreneur failed to show up for case mention.
Since then, Nur Sajat was believed to have fled the country and went into hiding.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
