A source said initial investigations revealed that Jamal had not been seen in his hospital ward since 3pm. ― Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 — Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos, who was remanded at the Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital here, has fled from police custody.

It was learnt that the controversial 48-year-old Umno politician was found missing from his hospital bed at 5.30pm, just as Shah Alam Court assistant registrar Rahasbiah Abd Rahman was about to bail him under Section 268 of the Penal Code for creating public nuisance.

A police source said Jamal was found missing by the assistant registrar upon her arrival at the hospital ward.

“Only the suspect’s lawyer and guarantor were at the hospital ward, while there was no sign of police personnel standing guard at his ward,” said the source to Malay Mail tonight.

The source said initial investigations revealed that Jamal had not been seen in his hospital ward since 3pm.

“Subsequently, police have mounted a manhunt in an operation called “Ops Tutup” at 7.12pm to locate the suspect who fled before his bail was granted.

“We have put out an all-points bulletin (APB) to all police stations and units to locate for the suspect,” said the source.

It is understood that Jamal’s lawyer Datuk Imran Tamrin is currently assisting the police to help locate the Red Shirts leader.

Meanwhile, Selangor criminal investigations department (CID) chief senior assistant commissioner Fadzil Ahmat confirmed that Jamal could not be located as he had left the hospital.

“Datuk Seri Jamal had yet to complete the documentation (for his bail). However, police will contact him to complete his court bail documentation process,” he said in a statement tonight.

Fadzil said Jamal was charged with three separate offences in hospital today where the magistrate’s court offered RM3,000 bail for each case.

Earlier this morning, Jamal had claimed trial to committing public nuisance by smashing bottles of alcoholic drinks in a symbolic protest to a beer festival in front of the Selangor State Secretariat building in Shah Alam on October 5 last year.

He was charged at the Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital’s premium ward before Shah Alam court magistrate Raja Noor Adilla Raja Mahyaldin, who was accompanied by an interpreter and a police investigation officer.

The charge was read out at 10.45am.

Raja Noor Adilla then set bail at RM3,000 pending mention on June 8 at the Shah Alam magistrate’s court.