KUANTAN: The Sessions Court has issued an arrest warrant for Pahang Agricultural Industry Organisation (PPNP) chairman Datuk Seri Zuhairi Ab. Kadir, after he failed to appear in court today.
Zuhairi, who heads the non-governmental organisation, was scheduled to appear before Sessions Court judge Azman Mustapha for proceedings under Section 425(1)(a) of the National Land Code 1965 for unlawful occupation of state land.
Pahang Enforcement Unit (UPNP) prosecuting officer Muhammad Najmi Zaki Amer Suhaimi applied for an arrest warrant to be issued against Zuhairi after he failed to appear as of 4pm today.
Earlier, Najmi Zaki told the court that a notice was handed to Zuhairi on Dec 31 for him to be present at court today (Jan 2). He said the latter had put down his signature as proof that he had accepted the notice.
"The investigating officer had attempted to contact the organisation chairman (Zuhairi) to be present at court to answer the charges but the prosecution believes that the organisation chairman has refused to attend court today.
"The prosecution requests an arrest warrant to be issued against their chairman to answer his charges in court," he said.
Najmi Zaki also told the court that checks with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) saw Zuhairi listed as the Pahang Agricultural Industry Organisation chairman.
Azman issued an arrest warrant and fixed Feb 6 for mention.
The court proceedings today are believed linked to an incident in June last year when two PPNP members were detained by UPNP for encroaching into state land.