EIGHT police officers in George Town were arrested yesterday for lodging a false report to cover up the escape of a man in their custody, according to a report on The Star Online.

The escape occurred when the policemen – a sergeant, three corporals and four lance-corporals – allowed the detainee to visit friends and family in Sungai Nibong Besar, police said, adding one officer made a false report that Anuar Ayat, 43, escaped when the police van he was travelling in broke down on Jalan Paya Terubong on Sunday.

Penang police chief Chuah Ghee Lye alleged that the policemen were “paid” before bringing Anuar and two other detainees out from the centralised police lock-up in Bayan Baru on the pretext that they were sick and needed treatment at Balik Pulau Hospital, he said.

“Instead of bringing them to the hospital, the three detainees were ferried to Sungai Ara.

“The escapee met his family at a condominium in Sungai Ara, while two others, aged 38 and 45, also had a similar meet-up with their families in the same area at about 2am on Sunday,” he told reporters yesterday.

Chuah said after spending half an hour with his family, Anuar – who was due to appear in court on drug trafficking charges – asked to be taken to Sungai Nibong Besar where he met the friend at about 4am the same day.

“He fled during the meeting,” he said, adding that the other two detainees were returned to the lock-up in Bayan Baru.

The officers, aged between 27 and 59, have been remanded for four days pending investigation. Chuah said police were considering the incident a case of negligence by a public servant in allowing the escape of a person under custody, for escaping from custody and for making a false police report. – July 11, 2017.