KUALA LUMPUR – A 34-year-old man identified as the founder of controversial online dating platform Sugarbook was arrested yesterday, and will be remanded today.
Malaysiakini reported Selangor Criminal Investigation Department chief Fadzil Ahmat as saying the suspect was detained in Mont Kiara here about 4.30pm.
“The suspect admitted that he is the founder of the Sugarbook app, during preliminary investigations.”
Police will apply for a remand order at the Shah Alam magistrates’ court today.
Sugarbook is being investigated under four laws, namely Section 505 of the Penal Code (statements conducing to public mischief), Section 372(1)(d) of the Penal Code (exploiting any person for purposes of prostitution), Section 372B of the Penal Code (soliciting for purposes of prostitution) and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (improper use of network facilities or network services).
The platform specialises in matching “sugar daddies” with “sugar babies” or “sugar mummies”, referring to older and generally well-off men soliciting dates with women, both young and old, through agreements involving gifts or financial transactions.
It was recently reported that Malaysia has the third-highest number of sugar daddies in Asia, behind India and Indonesia, on the app.
The site was blocked by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission following calls to ban it, after its release of a list of the top 10 universities in the country with the most “sugar babies” created uproar.
All internet service providers have been instructed by the regulator to block Sugarbook and its alternative websites. – The Vibes, February 18, 2021
