On the pretext of going to the toilet, a 23-year-old male prisoner escaped from Marang Prison while attending a religious class at the prison today.

Marang district police chief, DSP Mohd Suhaimi Ali said in the incident about 10.20 am, the prisoner had asked for permission from the ustaz teaching the religious class, to go to the toilet.

"When the prisoner later did not return to the class, the ustaz informed the prison warden on duty about it," he told reporters in Marang, today.

Mohd Suhaimi did not dismiss the possibility of the prisoner fleeing by climbing over the fence behind the toilet.

He said the prisoner, who was from Marang, started serving his jail sentence on Jan 3 under Section 380 of the Penal Code for committing theft in a building.

"Police will launch 'Op Tutup' to hunt for the escapee and we ask members of the public with information on the suspect to contact the nearest police station," he said.

- Bernama

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