SIBU: Police are hunting for a prisoner who broke out from the Sibu Central Prison last Sunday (May 30).
Sibu OCPD ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit confirmed the incident after news of the escape went viral on social media.
The suspect, identified as Lee Ka Yieng, 49, from Sarikei, had been sentenced to five years in prison for drug-related offences, and was found to have escaped at 12 pm.
Several social media pages have spread pictures of the suspect and claimed that he was also positive for Covid-19.
Asked on how the suspect managed to escape, ACP Stanley revealed that the prison cell’s door locking mechanism was the main cause.
“After successfully getting out from the cell, the suspect climbed the spandex wall of the prison before fleeing via the main road.
“We are still actively tracking down the prisoner.”
ACP Stanley said that the prisoner was sentenced to five years in prison last November.
The suspect was placed in another detention cell because he was previously suspected of being infected with Covid-19.
Nevertheless, he tested negative following a swab test.
