We have not given up looking for fugitive father, say cops

 

Muhammad Riduan Abdullah fled with daughter Prasana Diksa, who was supposed to be reunited with her mother, M Indira Gandhi, in 2009. (Facebook pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Police said efforts to execute a court order to track down Muhammad Riduan Abdullah, the former husband of kindergarten teacher M Indira Gandhi who fled with their daughter, are ongoing.

In their defence filed against a lawsuit by Indira, they said Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Abdul Hamid Bador and other officers had taken measures to track down Riduan and return Prasana Diksa to her mother.

“The IGP has never neglected his duties in executing the court’s order as we are still looking for Riduan,” the defence statement said.

They said the police action included placing Riduan on the wanted list, seeking an Interpol alert and getting assistance from other countries to track him down.

Indira filed the lawsuit against the IGP and the government last month, claiming inaction in executing a warrant of committal to arrest Riduan and return Prasana to her.

Riduan had absconded with Prasana in 2009.

In her statement of claim, Indira said the IGP had committed tort of misfeasance in public office when he “knowingly and/or recklessly disregarded the mandamus order from the Federal Court”.

The court had in 2016 instructed the IGP to execute the warrant of committal against Riduan after he was found guilty of contempt by refusing to hand over Prasana to her mother.

Police also said 72 police reports had been lodged to ask them to track Riduan down, with some providing some information.

“However, he could not be located and we believe Riduan was constantly moving from one place to another to avoid being tracked down,” they said.

They said a task force, known as Special Task Force on Organised Crime, was set up where they enlisted help from various agencies and ministries to obtain information on Riduan’s movements.

The IGP, in his press event this year, stood firm on his promise to obtain a ‘happy ending’ for Indira.

“He also stressed that police are looking for Riduan but do not publicise their work to the media on grounds of public interest,” they said. - FMT