JOHOR BARU: The infamous Rohingya man known as “Long Tiger” is still serving a one-year jail sentence for staging an escape from the court lockup in December last year.
Tangkak OCPD Supt Mohd Fadhil Minhat said that the 33-year-old, whose real name is Abdul Hamim Ab Hamid, was sentenced to a one-year prison term in January this year and has been in jail since.
“Although he was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the Tangkak Magistrate’s Court for an extortion case, it does not mean that he is a free man now.
“He is still serving a prison sentence at Kluang jail and is also on trial for other cases he was involved in,” he said.
On Tuesday, the Tangkak Magistrate’s Court gave a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to Abdul Hamim for an extortion case under Section 388 of the Penal Code.
His lawyer Datuk Shaharudin Ali said the magistrate made the order after both the prosecution and defence made their oral submissions as to the effect of the untimely death of the prosecution’s star witness, Luqman Hakeem Othman, in the middle of the trial.
Abdul Hamim made headlines when he escaped from police custody after being arrested for an offence under Section 388 of the Penal Code for extortion last year.
He escaped through the court’s main gate at 11.55am on Dec 15 while waiting for his case to begin and was rearrested in Sungai Petani, Kedah, on Dec 28.
He was picked up from the Sungai Udang Prison in Melaka a day before the incident and brought to court.
Police only realised he had escaped when they saw him running towards the gate.
Abdul Hamim escaped into the jungle.
On Jan 20, he was sentenced to 12 months’ jail by the Tangkak Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to the escape.
In 2012, Abdul Hamim was charged with kidnapping and rape. In 2009, he was convicted of criminal intimidation.
The suspect has temporary resident status and a refugee card issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.