6 men escape Sabah immigration detention depot to celebrate Raya

 

Sabah police said an operation to hunt down the detainees was in full swing. (PDRM pic)

KOTA KINABALU: Six detainees escaped from the Menggatal immigration detention depot (DTI) this morning, in what is believed to be an attempt to celebrate Hari Raya outside.

Three others were re-arrested within the fenced compound as they were trying to escape.

According to a source, the nine detainees, who were in their 20s to 40s, escaped by climbing the wall of the DTI. However, three were re-arrested within the DTI fenced area by officials who were conducting patrols.

The source said the other six detainees fled towards a village.

“Efforts to hunt down the six detainees are still being carried out, in collaboration with the immigration department and the police,” the source said.

When contacted, Sabah police commissioner Hazani Ghazali said an operation to hunt down the detainees was in full swing.

Earlier, a group of detainees at DTI Menggatal was reported to have rioted because they were not allowed to return to their home countries to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

However, the situation was successfully controlled after the Light Combat Unit (LSG) from the Kota Kinabalu district police headquarters was deployed to the DTI. - FMT