SIBU: An inmate, who reportedly escaped from Sibu Central Prison on May 30 this year, was recaptured in Sarikei on Monday (Nov 1).
This was confirmed by Sibu deputy police chief Supt Collin Babat on Tuesday (Nov 2).
He said the 49-year-old suspect was arrested while committing an offence in Sarikei.
“Further investigation by the police found that he was a convict who escaped from Sibu Central Prison five months ago and was the most wanted person.
“The suspect was remanded yesterday (Monday) for four days while waiting for further investigations to be carried out,” he said without disclosing the offence the inmate committed in Sarikei.
On May 30, the suspect, identified as Lee Ya Kieng, 49, reportedly escaped from Sibu Central Prison at noon.
Because he was suspected to be Covid-19 positive, he was isolated in another detention cell room.
While in the cell, he managed to unlock the door and climbed a fence before fleeing by using the main road. Other inmates in the nearby detention cells shouted to the guards that he had escaped.
Lee was sentenced to 13 years in prison for several drug-related offeces and will be released on February 27, 2031.
He was sentenced to five years in prison for narcotics offences in Kapit in November 2020 and to avoid overcrowding in prison and possible Covid-19 infection, he was later transferred to Sibu.
