SIBU: Police here will be tightening roadblocks in efforts to capture an inmate who escaped from the Sibu Central Prison on Sunday.
Sibu OCPD ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit said police in nearby districts had also been informed.
Nevertheless, he believed that the suspect, Lee Ya Kieng, 49, is still hiding in Sibu.
“Nearby districts will also be ready to tighten their respective roadblocks so that the suspect does not escape.
“The existing roadblocks here in Durin, Paradom and Bawang Assan have been tightened.”
The public are urged to contact the police immediately if they see the suspect.
ACP Stanley said he had yet to receive information from Kapit and Sarikei police on any development, however, “everyone is ready to tighten their respective roadblocks”.
When the suspect escaped around noon on Sunday, police only received a report from the prison around 4 pm.
“The prison guards had initially attempted to track down the suspect but I had already received the news before the official report was made. I myself went to the prison to investigate.”
He explained that before escaping, Lee had been isolated in another cell because he was suspected of being infected with Covid-19.
“While in the cell, he managed to unlock, climb the fence before escaping via the main road. Other inmates in the next detention cell saw this and shouted that he had escaped.”
ACP Stanley added that Lee’s swab test result came back negative.
He did not rule out the possibility of negligence in the incident. The case will be investigated under Section 223/224 of the Penal Code for inadvertently allowing an inmate to escape from prison.
Lee had been sentenced to 13 years in prison for several drug-related offences and he was scheduled to be released on Feb 27, 2031.
