KUALA LUMPUR — Some enforcement officials have been relieved of active duty over the escape of an alleged child sexual offender from the Sungai Buloh Prison compound, Selangor police said.
State police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said the case is being investigated under Sections 223 and 224 of the Penal Code, with authorities currently examining whether there was negligence.
Several police and Prisons Department personnel have been interviewed, as well as other detainees who witnessed the escape, Bernama reports him saying.
“So far, no arrests have been made, although some individuals have been relieved of their active duties,” Shazeli said at a press conference on the achievements of the Selangor Commercial Crime Investigation Department and the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department here today.
Police are looking for any breach of standard operating procedures (SOPs), while the Prisons Department is examining close-circuit television footage that has gone viral on social media, showing the detainee’s escape.
In the 30-second video, the remand detainee, wearing an orange T-shirt and black long pants, is seen fleeing immediately after getting down from a prison transport lorry escorted by a police vehicle.
His escape took place from the Sungai Buloh Prison’s parade grounds at about 6pm, last Thursday, April 9.
The remand detainee is a Pakistani, Muhammad Hassan, 24, who had attended court proceedings at the Shah Alam court that morning, and had been brought back to the prison along with other detainees.
He was due to face charges related to sexual offences involving a child as well as immigration offences.
The Prisons Department in a statement said it was examining the authenticity and source of the CCTV video, and would address any weaknesses identified and take action if any negligence is discovered.
Police, meanwhile, believe Muhammad Hassan is still in the Sungai Buloh area and are in the fifth day of trying to locate him with assistance from other agencies.
“We believe that the detainee has yet to establish communication with his friends. Based on police action, we believe efforts to prevent such communication have been successful,” he said.
On April 11, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) announced that checks at all the country’s entry points have been tightened to prevent the suspect from fleeing abroad.
Members of the public with information have been urged to contact investigating officer Inspector Muhendran Chandra at 010-430 4383 or the Search and Capture (SAC) Operations Room hotline at 03-6140 1096. – April 13, 2026