KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos’ disappearance from the Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital on Friday, has been attributed to a miscommunication between him and his lawyer.
Datuk Mohd Imran Tamrin, who is the lawyer for the Sungai Besar Umno chief, said his client may have thought that the bail process over the charge was completed before he left the hospital.
“This is his first time experiencing such a situation or facing a charge conducted outside the courtroom.
“I also believe that this was a case of ignorance and that there was no intention to commit a crime, including running away from custody,” he said in a statement.
Mohd Imran said he is concerned that his client could be in trauma or under stress following the situation.
“I ask that our friends out there help us and the police in finding him so that we can complete the bail process without implicating any parties.
“I sincerely apologise to everyone involved in this case, especially the police, the court and the hospital,” he said.
He is hoping that Jamal can contact the lawyers or present himself at the Ampang Jaya police headquarters to complete the bail process.
“I believe the police will give their full cooperation and assistance without the need for any arrest,” he said.
On Friday, Jamal was found missing from the Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital, where he was warded for a back problem.
He was earlier charged with causing public nuisance in an incident on Oct 5 last year when he led a protest at the Selangor state secretariat building’s (SUK) front gate by smashing crates of beer with a sledgehammer.
The demonstration was held as a sign of protest against the then-controversial Better Beer Festival 2017.
It was understood Jamal’s absence was noticed at 5.30pm when the Shah Alam deputy court registrar arrived at the hospital.
Jamal had been arrested and then placed under remand recently for allegedly displaying a firearm in pictures that had gone viral on social media websites.