GEORGE TOWN: Eight policemen ended up on the wrong side of the law when they brought three detainees out to meet their family members and a friend.
But the meet-up went awry when one of the detainees gave them the slip during a meeting with a friend in Sungai Nibong Besar.
In their bid to cover up, one of the policemen even lodged a false report, claiming the 43-year-old suspect had escaped when the police van he was travelling in broke down in Jalan Paya Terubong on Sunday.
The policemen – a sergeant, three corporals and four lance-corporals – have since been remanded for four days from yesterday to aid in the probe.
Aged between 27 and 59, they were remanded with another 56-year-old suspect, a fisherman who is the escapee’s friend.
Penang police chief Comm Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said the policemen were “paid” before taking the detainees out from the centralised police lock-up in Bayan Baru.
He, however, refused to disclose the amount, adding that investigation is still ongoing.
He added that the detainees were taken out on the pretext that they were sick and needed treatment at Balik Pulau Hospital.
“Instead of bringing them to the hospital, the three detainees were ferried to Sungai Ara.
“The escapee met his family at a condominium in Sungai Ara, while two others, aged 38 and 45, also had a similar meet-up with their families in the same area at about 2am on Sunday,” he said during a press conference at the state police headquarters in Penang Road yesterday.
Comm Chuah said after spending half an hour with his family, the escapee Anuar Ayat asked to be brought to Sungai Nibong Besar where he met the friend at about 4am the same day.
“He fled during the meeting,” he said, adding that the other two detainees have been brought back to the lock-up in Bayan Baru.
Comm Chuah said Anuar was nabbed for having a substantial amount of drugs in his car in 2015.
He said the escapee was supposed to be present at the court for his case under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 yesterday.
He said the case was now being investigated for negligence by a public servant in allowing the escape of a person under custody, for escaping from custody and for making a false police report.
He added that the policemen would also face disciplinary action.
“We are not only conducting criminal investigations, but also to investigate all the personnel at the lock-up.
“We would also look into the standard operation procedure and the weakness in the system, and recommend for changes if necessary,” he said.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/07/11/eight-cops-held-over-detainees-escape/#Y6VED6xQQ4xzWu08.99
