KUALA LUMPUR - Caretaker Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor had reportedly not answered phone calls from the police since Monday afternoon when the authority attempted to notify him of his court charges, said Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
The top cop added that the Kedah Police Contingent could not locate Sanusi in the state.
"Apart from Sanusi, the investigating officer had also contacted his private secretary and political secretary to notify him (of his charges), but the calls were rejected," he said.
"We decided to arrest him (Muhammad Sanusi) at 3am, after the investigation papers were submitted to the Deputy Public Prosecutor's Office, late yesterday afternoon," he said at a press conference in Bukit Aman, on Tuesday.
"The case in nature is related to the Royal Institutions and falls under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, which could incite disloyalty towards Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Sultan of Selangor, so the decision to arrest him is a reasonable step and in accordance with the law.
"A total of 58 police reports were made across the country, including by members of the Selangor Royal House," he said.
Sanusi was arrested at 3am at a hotel in Mont Kiara, Dutamas, here this morning by a police team from Bukit Aman CID's Special Investigation Unit and the Anti-Vice Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7).
He was then taken to the Gombak District Police Headquarters before being taken to the Selayang Sessions Court to face two charges under the Sedition Act.
Sanusi will also face another charge for a case that was reported on July 14.
Razarudin confirmed the case but declined to comment further.
On Tuesday, Muhammad Sanusi, 49, pleaded not guilty to two charges at two separate Sessions Courts in Selayang for uttering seditious remarks that could incite disloyalty towards the Rulers.
The charges were read before Judges Nor Rajiah Mat Zin and Osman Affendi Mohd Shalleh.
The top cop added that the Kedah Police Contingent could not locate Sanusi in the state.
"Apart from Sanusi, the investigating officer had also contacted his private secretary and political secretary to notify him (of his charges), but the calls were rejected," he said.
"We decided to arrest him (Muhammad Sanusi) at 3am, after the investigation papers were submitted to the Deputy Public Prosecutor's Office, late yesterday afternoon," he said at a press conference in Bukit Aman, on Tuesday.
"The case in nature is related to the Royal Institutions and falls under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, which could incite disloyalty towards Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Sultan of Selangor, so the decision to arrest him is a reasonable step and in accordance with the law.
"A total of 58 police reports were made across the country, including by members of the Selangor Royal House," he said.
Sanusi was arrested at 3am at a hotel in Mont Kiara, Dutamas, here this morning by a police team from Bukit Aman CID's Special Investigation Unit and the Anti-Vice Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7).
He was then taken to the Gombak District Police Headquarters before being taken to the Selayang Sessions Court to face two charges under the Sedition Act.
Sanusi will also face another charge for a case that was reported on July 14.
Razarudin confirmed the case but declined to comment further.
On Tuesday, Muhammad Sanusi, 49, pleaded not guilty to two charges at two separate Sessions Courts in Selayang for uttering seditious remarks that could incite disloyalty towards the Rulers.
The charges were read before Judges Nor Rajiah Mat Zin and Osman Affendi Mohd Shalleh.