130 drug inmates escape from center

130 drug inmates escape from center

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): About 130 inmates at a drug
rehabilitation center in northern Kedah state escaped after
rioting and setting ablaze five buildings on Saturday night.

The national Bernama news agency said yesterday that police
managed to capture 47 of the inmates after a manhunt in the palm
oil and rubber estates surrounding the center,

Senior police officer Superintendent Abdul Samah Haji Mat was
quoted as saying some 550 other inmates in the center were safe
and housed in their respective blocks. More than 200 policemen
are involved in tracking down the remaining addicts, police
officials said.

Bernama said the riot began when a group of inmates went to
see the center's commander. They started burning the buildings
when dissatisfied with his explanation on an undisclosed matter.