Nabbed — man who fled EMCO area to fill up petrol

 

The suspect’s actions were also caught on video which later went viral on social media. (Facebook pic)

KOTA KINABALU: A man who was caught on video escaping in his car from an area placed under enhanced restrictions has been detained.

In the video that went viral on social media, the man also appeared to have challenged the authorities by driving the car slowly through the yellow tape used to cordon off Kampung Pintasan in the Kota Belud northern district.

Kota Belud police chief Sahimi Husin said the village had been under EMCO from July 9 to July 22.

“After driving through the police tape, the man used his hand to remove the tape when it brushed against the roof of the car, as if challenging the authorities,” Sahimi said when contacted.

“He also risked exposing others to Covid-19 by escaping from the locality.”

He said police tracked down the suspect in the same village and arrested him on Thursday.

Sahimi said police later found out the suspect had gone out for the sole purpose of filling his car’s petrol tank, but the petrol station was located outside the EMCO area. - FMT