PETALING JAYA: The police have issued an arrest warrant for Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos (pic), who escaped from police custody and went into hiding.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the warrant of arrest was issued on Friday (June 1).

“We have given him enough time to present himself but he still failed to do so.

“Instead he released a statement saying that his safety is jeopardised,” said the IGP in a statement Friday.

The arrest warrant is for the offence of escaping or resisting police custody (or intentionally offers any resistance or illegal obstruction to the lawful apprehension of himself for any offence) under Section 224 of the Penal Code.

Fuzi added that those with information on his whereabouts can contact their nearest police station.

Jamal faces six charges, with another three brought against him while he was admitted at Ampang Putri Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, last week.

In a video clip shot at a palm oil plantation, he claimed there was a planned effort by certain parties to direct the police to frame him at any cost.

He also appealed to the police to give him time to turn himself in.

According to unverified reports in a Chinese daily, Jamal is said to have escaped to Pulau Karimun, an island in Indonesia, on May 27.

The island is 10km off the coast of south-western Johor and can be reached by boat from Kukup.

After failing to complete his bail arrangement last Friday (May 25), Jamal promised to turn himself in at the Ampang police district headquarters on Wednesday (May 30), but he failed to show up.