KOTA KINABALU: Security forces are on the lookout for an escaped prisoner from Southern Philippines who was alleged to have fled into Sabah’s Semporna district recently.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah said according to intelligence sources, the prisoner identified as Alnazar Jalilul, who was jailed for murder, had broken out of the Tawi-Tawi prison on Sept 26 evening.
After weeks of search operations, Philippines authorities spotted Alnazar with a cross-border criminal – Haibin Mubin, in Sitangkai, Philippines early October.
It is learnt that raids were mounted to capture the duo.
Idris said the information was that Haibin, who is on the Eastern Sabah Security Command wanted list, was eventually shot dead during a raid on Oct 16.
Alnazar was believed to have fled into Sabah’s Semporna district using a speedboat following Haibin’s death.
Word was that Alzanar had friends and relatives in Semporna and that he was planning to seek refuge from them.
“We got information of Alzanar’s alleged escape into Sabah on Oct 27 and immediately launched an operative to check on it,” Idris said when contacted.
He said border controls were tightened, alerts were heightened and all possible means to detect the fugitive’s possible entry into Sabah were used.
“However, there is no confirmation of the fugitive actually entering and hiding in Semporna as suspected as of now,” he said.
Idris said they were working closely with their Philippines counterparts to investigate this case.