18 months' jail for escaping from police custody

An alleged robber who escaped from police while being escorted to the courthouse for his trial was sentenced to 18 months' jail by the Magistrate's Court here on Wednesday.

Dahalan Abdul Ghani, 30, admitted committing the offence at the court complex in Jalan Duta at 8.30 am on Feb 23.

Magistrate Nurul Ain Abdul Rahim said the court would not consider his mitigation for a light sentence because he had not shown any remorse.

"How can I consider a light sentence with your previous convictions for drugs, contempt of court, fighting, and now escaping from police custody," she said.

Dahalan who was unrepresented had mitigated that he escaped because he was angry at being placed in a cell with detainees who wanted to pick a fight with him and for not being allowed bail to see his two-month-old child.

When the magistrate asked how he managed to escape from the police, he said he hid himself after alighting from the police truck at the court complex and ran out while no one was around, to return home and see the baby.

Dahalan was tracked down on March 7 at Jinjang, Sentul, near his house.

Deputy public prosecutor N. Joy Jothi urged for a deterrent sentence "as a lesson to the accused and warning to the public to never attempt escape while in police custody".