FIVE AT LARGE AFTER RIOTS

By HAMDAN RAJA ABDULLAH
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

TANGKAK: Police have mounted a manhunt for five of the 21 men who escaped from the Bukit Gambir drug rehabilitation centre, following riots on Thursday night.

A dog unit from Segamat, Rela members and villagers are assisting in the massive manhunt and so far, they have recaptured 16 of the escapees.

Police picked up three inmates at several places the same night. Thirteen others were tracked down to the Grisek-Panchor bridge at 8am yesterday. They had been hiding under the bridge.

Police taking away the recaptured men.

Ledang deputy OCPD Deputy Supt Salleh Abdul Razak said the rioting inmates had torched a building and partially burnt a storehouse.

He said eight cars and three motorcycles were either damaged or destroyed.

The rioters used bricks to smash the windshields of some of the cars, while a few were overturned. At least one car was burnt. There were, however, no casualties.

DSP Salleh said police had yet to determine what caused the riot.

“The situation is now under control,” he said, urging the public to be on the lookout for the five still at large.

He said the five sported recruit hairstyles and were most probably still wearing their red T-shirts.

The public can call the nearest police station or contact him personally at 019-2799 429 if they have any information on the five.

SOURCE: THE STAR, JUNE 11, 2011