Darren Chan, who is the founder of Sugarbook (the biggest “Sugar Daddy-Sugar Baby” dating site in Asia), has been arrested.
The 34-year-old, who is from Penang, was detained yesterday evening (Wednesday, 17th February) around 4:30pm at his plush condominium in Icon Residence on Persiaran Dutamas, Mont Kiara.
Selangor police CID chief SAC Datuk Fadzil Ahmat confirmed the arrest, saying that the man was being probed under Section 372 (B) of the Penal Code for the solicitation of prostitution and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) for abusing network facilities.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had blocked access to Sugarbook.com earlier on Monday. However, on Tuesday, Sugarbook created an alternative website that instructed users how to get around MCMC’s ban.
Sugarbook came under scrutiny after naming the top 10 public and private universities as having the most student candidates who have opted the sugar baby lifestyle by looking for sugar daddies to finance their lifestyle.
Sunway University topped the charts. The university’s CEO Elizabeth Lee later came out with a statement, expressing disappointment “with a recent article about a company that challenges the moral fabric of our community and of our youth, while aiming to promote and profit from immoral and possibly illegal activity“.
Despite the recent controversy, Sugarbook’s spokesperson said: “Sugarbook.com is only affected in Malaysia. Over time, we would have to invest more in SEO but at this moment, our extensive PR presence online makes up for it.”
Having said that, the company has plans to branch out into other countries with high average revenue per unit.
Before Darren Chan got arrested, he tweeted out a statement, apologising to the patrons of Sugarbook “that we’re not in a position to do more at this time. We have a responsibility to help you with building modern relationships. We believe that our Malaysian government knows what’s best for the people.”
Sources: The Sun, Marketing Interactive.
