GEORGE TOWN: Penang police have launched a manhunt for a detainee who escaped from the Bayan Baru centralised lock-up here at midnight yesterday.
State police chief Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the man, identified as Azizi Mohammad Hassan, 33, was nabbed for a narcotics offence during an operation on April 20.
He said police discovered the detainee missing about midnight.
"The detainee was picked up during an operation in Jelutong on April 20.
"He was then placed at the lock-up while awaiting the decision whether to be detained under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985," he said after the launch of the state-level Op Selamat at the Bayan Baru Ramadan bazaar here today.
Shuhaily said, following the incident, police had detained six police lance corporals and corporals attached to the centralised lock-up who were on duty when the detainee escaped.
"They have been remanded for three days to assist in the investigation.
"We will probe the matter thoroughly, whether there is any element of negligence or other elements," he added.