PRETORIA - Suliman Carrim said his trip to Asia was for spiritual upliftment.
Carrim was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday night.
The state accuses him of attempting to leave South Africa with no intention of returning.
He had repeatedly failed to appear before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Carrim was trying to board a flight to the United Arab Emirates when he was arrested.
The North West businessman is appearing in court in Pretoria.
READ: Madlanga Commission welcomes Suliman Carrim's arrest
Carrim said he was heading to Saudi Arabia via Dubai to perform a pilgrimage.
"Spiritual upliftment, and from here I travel to Pakistan to my spiritual guide, where we do humanitarian work," Carrim told the court.
"I've been doing this trip for the last 16 years."
Carrim said he would've been back in Johannesburg on 27 October at 8:30pm.