A 27-year-old Rohingyan, Rohim Mohd Zokoria, reportedly escaped from a COVID-19 quarantine centre in the Ministry of Health (MOH) Training Institute at Tanjung Rambutan yesterday on June 1.
According to the Chief of Perak Criminal Investigation Department, Senior Assistant Commissioner Anuar Othman, it was a staff of MOH who realised the man’s disappearance.
“We were informed of this matter when we received a police report from Tanjung Rambutan Police Station,” he said. “MOH found out that he was not in the designated quarantine room.
“The suspect has a robust physique, weighs around 65 kg, has short, black hair and is between 165 to 168cm tall,” Anuar described.
Rohim was previously apprehended by the police in Muallim district and was admitted to Slim River Hospital for having COVID-19 symptoms. Results from screening were negative and he was sent to MOH for a 14-day quarantine on Saturday, May 30.
Anuar added that the suspect has yet to undergo early screenings in MOH.
Investigations will be done under Section 269 of the Penal Code and Section 22(b) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (1988) (Act 342).
“No further information was kept by the centre as the suspect did not bring any self-identification documents and he only filled his name and passport number on a form provided,” Anuar mentioned.
“Further investigations found out that the suspect was caught with two other individuals, presumably his friends, at KM 388.3 of the North-South Highway heading north,” he disclosed. “He was given bail as he complained of breathing difficulty and was showing symptoms of the virus.”
Rosli Mansor
