KUANTAN: In was short-lived freedom for four inmates of the Sungai Ruan Cure and Care Rehabilitation Centre (CCRC) in Raub who escaped through their hostel toilet window early yesterday.
P. Suris, 39, Ooi Chuan Tat, 42, and Yunus Abu Bakar, 44, were nabbed at about 2am today, while Johari Mohamad, 50 was arrested about 9am.
The four were among seven inmates who escaped CCRC early yesterday.
Three other escapees - Tan Tian Soon, 44, Ng Swee An, 47 and Azreen Kusai, 36, - remain at large.
Raub district police chief Superintendent Kama Azural Mohamed said Suris, Ooi and Yunus were nabbed after a police mobile patrol vehicle (MPV) spotted them riding on a motorcycle early today.
He said the policemen spotted the trio at about 2.05am near Taman Raub Jaya and flagged down their motorcycle when Yunus escaped on foot.
"Suris was riding the motorcycle while Ooi and Yunus were riding pillion. Checks revealed Suris and Ooi both had previous drug offences. They were then identified as those who had escaped from CCRC and checks on the motorcycle registration number revealed that it was reported stolen in Sungai Ruan.
"Several minutes later, policemen spotted Yunus along a nearby road and arrested him. The three suspects will also be investigated for stealing the motorcycle," he said.
Kama Azural said investigations revealed that following their escape, the trio went into hiding at a nearby jungle before coming out about 1am to steal a motorcycle at Kampung Tok Machang.
Later villagers who spotted Johari behind one of the houses about 9am alerted the police which led to his arrest.
He said based on the information received from the four inmates who were in police custody, the three others were believed to be still in Raub as they were very tired, hungry and had no cash with them.
“Those with information on the escapees or notice individuals acting suspiciously should contact the police immediately,” he said in a statement.
In the incident, the seven inmates had climbed through their hostel toilet window before exiting through the back door of the CCRC early yesterday.
The operation to recapture the escapees involved 16 officers and personnel from the Raub District Police Headquarters, 40 National Anti-Drug Agency personnel and Sungai Ruan CCRC officers.