ALOR STAR – Some 130 immigration escapees are still at large after 528 ethnic Rohingya broke out of the Sg Bakap temporary detention centre yesterday morning.
Kedah police chief Datuk Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad said two of the captured detainees have been admitted to the Seberang Prai Hospital and Sg Bakap Hospital for injuries sustained during their escape.
“We have arrested a total of 398 detainees – 192 men, 75 women, 63 boys and 60 girls.”
He added that the 130 still on the run comprises 99 men, 21 women, five girls and five boys.
Wan Hassan said in a statement that authorities at midnight transferred some 448 detainees to other detentions centres across the country – Semenyih in Selangor (144), Langkap in Perak (100), Machap Umboo in Melaka (104) and Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur (100).
As of 1pm yesterday, some 171 immigration detainees remained at large as police believed they were heading to the Klang Valley, said Penang police chief Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.
It is believed that more were captured last night as Kedah and Penang police launched Ops Kesan and Ops Cantas to track down the detainees.
Earlier, Shuhaily said six of the 528 escaped immigration detainees died trying to cross the PLUS highway at KM165 southbound after their escape from the temporary detention depot in Sg Bakap.
Immigration Director-General Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said in a statement that the detainees fled after breaking the block door and grill barrier at the depot.
At 4.20am, hundreds of detainees fled the temporary depot, much to the surprise of nearby residents, who took photos and videos of them escaping. – The Vibes, April 21, 2022
