TWO Indonesian men were sentenced to eight months in jail each by the magistrate’s court in Kulai today for escaping from Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) custody last Tuesday.

Riki Rinaldi, 40, and Haji Samirudin, 36, pleaded guilty to the charge before Magistrate Azureen Sahira Sauffee Afandi.

Riki and Haji were charged with intentionally escaping from MMEA custody, having been detained under section 56 (1A)(a) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

The offence was committed at Jalan Felda Inas heading towards Sengkang on April 11.

On Wednesday, Kulai police chief Tok Beng Yeow was reported to have said that the two men were among four offenders being taken to Ledang Prison by three MMEA personnel to serve a six-month jail sentence for immigration offences.

Riki and Haji reportedly freed themselves from their handcuffs, kicked open the back door of the van, jumped out and ran off into an oil palm estate.

Tok said the men were found in separate locations on Jalan Felda Inas-Kulai within 24 hours. – Bernama, April 17, 2023.