A Bentong jail warden had his left earlobe bitten off by a Liberian prisoner in an incident at the Bentong Prison Complex on Wednesday afternoon.

Bentong district police chief, Supt Mohd Mansor Mohd Nor said the 37-year-old victim was rushed to the Temerloh Hospital for treatment while the 46-year-old suspect was transferred to a separate cell.

"Initial investigations revealed that the incident occurred at 2.05pm when the victim and three other prison wardens were ordered to transfer the prisoner to another block for the purpose of isolation and investigation.

"However, the prisoner refused to be handcuffed and became aggressive by attacking the wardens. The victim and another friend tried to restrain him. In the struggle, the victim was punched in the face, causing him to fall and the prisoner pinned him to the floor before biting off his left ear," Mohd Mansor said when contacted yesterday.

The three other officials had to use force to get the victim released and the prisoner was beaten and handcuffed before being taken to a separate block.

Mansor said the prisoner had earlier been transferred to Bentong Prison in 2016 after being sentenced to death on Aug 16, 2005, on drug trafficking charges.

--Bernama