Police have arrested a businessperson who allegedly abused his three Indonesian maids and withheld their pay.

The Star reported that the suspect, a 'tan sri', was picked up along with his wife at the Kajang police headquarters this morning when they went to have their statements recorded. 

They were later remanded for one day by the Kajang Magistrates' Court.

"We are investigating the case under Section 13 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 for trafficking by means of force," Kajang police chief Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof was quoted as saying.

According to the report, the three women, aged between 25 and 41, had been working at the suspects' house in Country Heights, Kajang, for durations of seven years, four years and six months.

Their plight came to light when an unknown man brought them to the Indonesian embassy after they decided to run away by climbing the fence of their employer's house.

The women are currently seeking refuge at the Indonesian embassy, which lodged a police report on the incident.

The victims claim that they were punched and slapped, and had their pay and passports withheld by the suspects.