Kedah criminal investigation department chief G Suresh Kumar said the man, in his 30s, is a detainee at the camp and police believe he was the ‘mastermind’ who may have incited the detainees to riot.
“This man remains at large and search efforts are ongoing,” he told reporters at the district police headquarters here today.
Suresh said as of last night, some 200 of the Rohingya detainees have been questioned.
Over 20 personnel from the immigration department and the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) who were on duty during the breakout were called in today to record their statements as well, he said.
“So far, what we know is that the escapees only wanted their freedom and it was not because they were unhappy with the camp management,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bandar Baharu district police chief Akmal Hizam Abd Khupur has given an assurance that the district and its surroundings were safe despite many detainees still on the loose.
He said 14 police teams with a strength of 150 personnel, including the General Operations Force (GOF) have been mobilised to track down the fugitives.
“For now, we are focusing on Bandar Baharu town, Relau and Lubok Buntar, each covering a two-kilometre radius search range.
“Some of the escapees were found on roadsides and we believe there are some who are hiding in bushes with no idea where to go.”
Akmal Hizam also advised residents not to act on their own and if they happen to come across the escapees, should immediately contact the nearest police station.
In the 4.30am incident on Wednesday, 528 Rohingya detainees escaped from the depot following a riot.
Six of them died after being hit by vehicles on the North-South Expressway while 130 detainees, comprising 99 men, 21 women, five boys and five girls are still on the run.
In a related development, home minister Hamzah Zainudin said the Rohingya inmates had been detained for over two years because the deportation process could not be done as the Myanmar government was not willing to accept them and did not recognise their citizenship status.
“So, where can they be deported to? This is a problem for us,” he told the media at an event in Sepang.
He said 104 Rohingya detainees were still at large after escaping from the immigration depot after 424 of the 528 escapees were re-arrested as at 7pm today.