JOHOR BARU, Malaysia - A prominent lawyer who went into hiding after being allegedly involved in more than a dozen criminal breach of trust cases has been arrested.

The lawyer, in his 40s, was arrested while trying to secure travel documents to leave the country from the Immigration Department in Putrajaya.

He was disbarred a few years ago following complaints from his former clients involving monies worth more than RM1.5mil.

The fugitive lawyer, who has been on the police wanted list for nearly four years, had gone to the Immigration Department headquarters to ask for the return of his passport as he wanted to leave the country.

However, immigration officers alerted the police as the lawyer's name had been on the watch list since he jumped bail following his arrest in Pontian in 2005.

Police have since brought him back to Johor Baru to assist in investigations.

It is learnt that the lawyer mainly worked on cases involving the sale and purchase of property linked to government servants.

Between 1999 and 2001, more than a dozen police reports were lodged against him for alleged cheating. Most of the cases involved cheques of between RM20,000 and RM900,000.

Sources said the lawyer, who usually represented buyers, cashed the cheques issued by the Treasury, meant to be paid to the developer of a property.

It was earlier reported that the suspect was among 25 lawyers being sought by the police for pocketing money belonging to housebuyers.

Johor Baru South OCPD Asst Comm Zainuddin Yaacob confirmed the arrest but declined to elaborate.

He urged those with information to contact the police hotline at 07-2212 999.

THE STAR / ASIA NEWS NETWORK