Rohingya escapees from Kedah detention centre moving south in large groups, say police as manhunt continues
Police road block in Nibong Tebal, Penang, which has been set up to search for the remaining Rohingya detainees who escaped from the Sungai Bakap immigration detention depot on Apr 20, 2022. (Photo: Bernama)
GEORGE TOWN: Large groups of Rohingya illegal immigrants, who escaped from the temporary detention facility in Kedah on early Wednesday (Apr 20), seemed to be heading towards the south, the police said.
The Star quoted Penang police chief Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain as saying that based on police observation, the escapees were barefooted and moving in large groups.
He was speaking in a press conference held by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow at Komtar on Wednesday.
"They are moving in large groups and as they are barefooted, I believe they must be tired.
"After speaking to some of those who have been caught, it has strengthened my assumption that they are moving south but do not have an actual destination in mind,” he was quoted as saying.
He added that one of them said they were just following the crowd.
Earlier, Malaysian authorities said 528 out of 664 Rohingya detainees had fled from the Sungai Bakap temporary detention depot near the Kedah-Penang border, following a riot at around 4.30am.
BODIES OF SIX THROWN ALL OVER HIGHWAY: EYE WITNESS
Nanyang Siang Pau reported that the six who perished were hit by the same car while crossing the highway.
It quoted Mr Mohd Shuhaily as saying that one vehicle was at the scene when the police arrived, hence it was deduced that only one car was involved in the incident.
The driver, who was about 50 years old, was unhurt but was in shock, he added.
Mr Mohd Shuhaily said that the incident was believed to have occurred at 6.45am.
The bodies of the six – two men, two women and two children – were thrown all over the highway, New Straits Times reported, quoting the account of a Kampung Sungai Kechil villager who witnessed the accident.
