Escaped detainees hungry and searching for food, 10 recaptured so far

TAPAH: Ten illegal immigrants who escaped from the Bidor Immigration depot on Thursday (Feb 1) night have been recaptured so far.

Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Juson said the operation to track down the remaining 120 escapees would continue until all have been apprehended.

“At about 7am on Friday (Feb 3), two individuals were detained at the Batu Melintang Mosque who asked for some water from congregants. The locals informed the police and they were recaptured.

“Another arrest was made in the Sementa Orang Asli Village, which is within a 12km radius (of the depot). The escapees have started coming out to find food,” he told a press conference here on Saturday (Feb 3).

He said that there was positive progress in the operation to recapture the escapees, in cooperation with the police,General Operations Force, Air Operations Force, Criminal Investigation Department and the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela).

Ruslin further said that the search is focussing on foreign national settlements, mosques, vacant houses, surau and Orang Asli villages around Tapah.

“These escaped detainees may seek help from acquaintances or relatives to hide in illegal settlements around Tapah.

“The public is urged to inform authorities if there are any suspicious individuals requesting food or water,” he said, adding that the escapees are dispersed and are not moving in large groups.

Ruslin has also ordered Immigration across the country to conduct large-scale operations as the target and radius of the search have been expanded.

“Tomorrow, 100 more personnel will report to the Bidor Immigration depot,” he said.

Ruslin also said that the depot had been cleared.

“Around 11pm on Friday, 100 female detainees were relocated to depots in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur; Lenggeng, Negri Sembilan and Kemayan, Johor,” he said.

In the incident on Thursday night, a total of 131 illegal immigrants fled from the male block of the depot. One died while attempting to cross a highway.

The escapees comprise 115 Rohingya detainees, 15 Myanmar nationals and one from Bangladesh. – BK