BUKIT MERTAJAM, July 11 — A police vehicle that was hijacked by a suspected thief in Kamunting, Perak at 7.40am yesterday was recovered in Bukit Minyak here at 9.30pm.

Seberang Perai Tengah ACP Azman Abd Lah said the MPV was believed to have been abandoned by the suspect by the roadside in Bukit Minyak.

He said police were hot on the trail of the suspect.

The suspect, who had been arrested after a tip-off from the public, managed to escape after pushing aside a policeman and driving away the MPV in Kamunting.

The suspect, 32, lunged forward from the back seat of the patrol car, pushed out a policeman who was about to start the engine and made a daring escape, according to a report in The Star today.

He then sped off heading north.

A manhunt has been launched to track down the suspect.

According to The Star, Taiping OCPD ACP Yusof Diah said villagers spotted the “suspicious man” sleeping inside a lorry at about 7.30am.

“The villagers caught him and called the police. A patrol car with two personnel rushed to the scene to investigate.

“He was not caught for any crime but he failed to produce his identity card when questioned,” Yusof was quoted as saying, adding that they then decided to take him to the Kamunting police station for questioning.

Initial investigations revealed that the man from Pokok Tampang, Tasek Gelugor, Penang, had five convictions related to drugs and car theft.

Yusof said it was weaknesses on the part of the policemen for allowing the suspect to escape and, worse still, in a police vehicle.

The two policemen will be referred to the disciplinary board for further action, according to The Star.

Police are looking for Muhamad Hafiz to help in the investigations. Anyone with information is to contact the nearest police station