Cops probed over disappearance of Red Shirts leader in their custody.
Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today expressed regret over what he viewed as negligence by the authorities which had led to Umno Sungai Besar chief Jamal Yunos’ first disappearance from a private hospital last week.
“Officers on duty handling such cases cannot be negligent. I feel disappointed […] in Jamal’s case, how could he have escaped from the hospital?
“I regret that it happened. Negligence has happened and I cannot allow it to happen (in the future),” Muhyiddin told reporters yesterday.
Police are investigating the two policemen on guard duty for negligence when Jamal absconded.
“The investigation is being conducted by the Integrity and Compliance Standard Department (JIPS) to determine whether the matter was deliberate or there was a misunderstanding or a technical error,” Selangor police CID chief SAC Fadzil Ahmat said today.
When asked if he had any message for Jamal and former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman who is also missing and sought by the police and MACC, Muhyiddin said both politicians should turn themselves in or risk being arrested as Malaysian police could seek assistance from their foreign counterparts, including Interpol.
“It is best for them to surrender themselves as the police will take appropriate actions under the law,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter who they are. The police are probing these cases that we know have been reported in the media, offences were committed under Malaysian law and they cannot run away.
“Although they might try to escape, I believe the law will catch up with them,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, police have issued a warrant of arrest today for Jamal under Section 224 of the Penal Code for fleeing from lawful arrest.
Sin Chew Daily cited sources as saying the Umno leader fled to the port town of Tanjung Balai Karimun of the Karimun island in the Riau Islands province in Indonesia on May 27.
The island is 10km off the coast of south-western Johor and can be reached by boat from Kukup.
Muhyiddin yesterday ordered Malaysian police to seek assistance from their Indonesian counterparts to locate and capture Jamal.
Jamal faces six charges, with another three brought against him while he was admitted to Ampang Putri Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, last week.
In a video clip shot at a palm oil plantation, he claimed there was a concerted effort by certain parties to direct the police to frame him at any cost.
He also appealed to the police to give him time to turn himself in.
Muhyiddin said he would leave it to the police to act according to existing laws.
He chided Jamal on his plea to him (Muhyiddin) to ensure that he would not be mistreated in police custody.
“What protection is to be given? He knew that he had committed offences, then he ran away,” Muhyiddin said.
Earlier reports:
May 31, Calls to Arrest Jamal Now
May 30, Fearing Arrest, ‘Victimised’ Fugitive Jamal Seeks Refuge
May 29, Jamal Says Will Turn Himself in Tomorrow
May 27, Jamal Yunos Emerges
May 26, Wanted: Jamal Yunos
May 25, Jamal Charged in Hospital for Smashing Beer Bottles
May 22, Jamal Arrested over Firearms Offence