KOTA KINABALU – A total of 21 inmates involved in a riot at the immigration detention depot here yesterday have been detained for further investigation.
They include 14 men and seven women aged between 19 and 51.
Kota Kinabalu district police chief Mohd Zaidi Abdullah said upon receiving report of the riot, he had ordered all teams of the Kota Kinabalu police headquarters to the location to take control of the depot.
Among the teams dispatched to the location were the Light Strike Force, Crime Investigation Department, Special Branch, and Public Order Riot unit from Sabah’s General Operation Force.
“Once we reached the scene at 7.40am, most of the inmates were calm and cooperated with the police, and returned to their cells,” he said when contacted today.
Zaidi said he was also present during the negotiation process beside the Blocks E and F chief officer to resolve the situation.
Sabah Immigration deputy director (operations) Masri Adul was also present during the negotiation process.
“During the discussion, we advised all detainees to follow the rules and use the right channels to have a discussion with us instead of initiating a riot.
“They were also warned not to attempt escape as the police had surrounded the detention centre.
“We also warned them not to damage any government’s property or facility in the depot,” he said.
Yesterday, The Vibes reported that over 400 inmates in a detention depot here initiated a riot at about 6.30am to protest over the delay of their deportation process.
The incident started in a block housing female detainees, where the women were said to have been stressed out.
Zaidi asked all detainees to remain patient in waiting for the deportation process to their respective countries as soon as the pandemic is under control. – The Vibes, September 11, 2021
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