Escape of Iranian detainee could be an inside job

PETALING JAYA: A 50-year-old police corporal has been suspended pending investigation into the escape of an Iranian detainee. 

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed did not rule out the possibility that Rafat Manesh Gavhei Mahmood’s escape was an “inside job”.

He said the corporal, who was also injured during a scuffle shortly before Rafat escaped, would be investigated whether he was involved in aiding the detainee. 

“We discovered that Rafat was not handcuffed when he escaped from the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court’s holding cell.

“We will get to the bottom of it,” he said when contacted on Friday.

ACP Arjunaidi said police have formed a task force to hunt down Rafat, who is believed to be a drug trafficker.

“We believe he may try to contact his associates in the country. We hope to detain him as soon as possible,” he said.

It was reported Rafat, 48, escaped police custody at around 10.30am on Thursday after attending his hearing at the court.

Rafat overpowered a policeman before escaping from the lock up, which was holding a few suspects at the time of the incident.

He was arrested in Subang Jaya for drug-related charges on Feb 20.