Quarantined Man With Blue Wristband Escapes Perak Hospital But Captured by Police an Hour Later

By Karissa Lund  •  23 Nov 2020 in News

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According to NST, a patient wearing a blue-coloured COVID-19 wrist tag caused a stir after he escaped from the Slim River Hospital, yesterday. Fortunately, police managed to track him down and detain him within an hour of his getaway.

Muallim OCPD Supt Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman said police received a call from the hospital about the man’s escape from Ward 7 on Sunday (22 Nov) around 4.50 pm.

The 29-year-old, who was wearing a blue wristband, was located at about 6 pm and detained by personnel from the Slim River police station Crime Prevention Patrol team near a petrol station at the Bandar Baru Slim River area.

“Medical workers, wearing personal protection equipment (PPE), came and took him back,” Sulizmie said in a statement.

However, it was later revealed that the man’s COVID-19 test came back negative and he is expected to be discharged today.

Police nevertheless arrested the man – who was found to have a criminal record of six offences – for resisting arrest and failing to observe COVID-19 protocols under Section 22(b) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act.

Sulizmie added that the matter would also be investigated under Section 186 and 269 of the Penal Code for obstructing public servants from performing their duties and committing a negligent act likely to spread infection of any disease dangerous to life respectively.