Penang police cast wider net on probe into escaped drug trafficking suspect
(File pix) State police chief Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said Anuar Ayat, 43, could have fled from the state, as he has yet to be found in over 48 hours. (pix by DANIAL SAAD)
By Balvin Kaur - July 11, 2017 @ 2:28pm
GEORGE TOWN: The detainee, who is facing drug trafficking charge that escaped police custody on Sunday, is believed to have already left the state.
State police chief Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said Anuar Ayat, 43, could have fled from the state, as he has yet to be found in over 48 hours.
"We believe the detainee has left Penang and that he is still in the country," he told reporters when met at State Umno Open house here today.
It was reported yesterday that Anuar had bribed police personnel, who was escorting him to the hospital, to take him to visit his family and a friend, before escaping.
Eight police personnel had been detained in connection with the escape.
A 56-year-old fisherman was also detained in connection to the case.
Anuar was arrested in Kedah in 2015 for drug trafficking and was charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which carries a mandatory death sentence.
He was brought from Kedah and detained in the Bayan Baru lockup for mention of his case.
Police since have since widened the investigation and looking into the other police personnel stationed at the Bayan Baru lockup.
However, Chuah said that so far there are no indications of other policemen being involved.
"We have cast a wider net into our investigation to also include the 20 to 35 Bayan Baru lock up police personnel in the same shift as the eight detained," he said.
