KOTA KINABALU: Police in Kinabatangan district are on the hunt for a detainee who escaped from the Kinabatangan Hospital while undergoing Covid-19 treatment in the wee hours of Tuesday (Feb 22).

       The suspect, identified as Suhin Mursidi, 37, was believed to have fled from police custody through the male patient ward’s back door.

       Kinabatangan OCPD Supt Dzulbaharin Ismail said Suhin’s disappearance was discovered at about 2am when the policemen in charge went to check on him.

       “A manhunt has been mounted for the suspect, who was last seen wearing black t-shirt and a pair of jeans,” he said in a statement.

       Earlier, he said Suhin was detained on Feb 18 for alleged drug related offences.

       Suhin was taken to the hospital for a Covid-19 swab test as part of the pandemic standard operating procedure (SOP) before he could be put in the lockup, said Supt Dzulbaharin.

       His test results came back positive and he was admitted to the Kinabatangan Hospital for monitoring.

       The police urged anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts to inform their nearest police stations immediately.

       The public can contact the police station at 089-561 890 or the investigating officer Insp Norazmeer Azmi at 013-630 9080.