KOTA KINABALU, Jan 5 — The police are hot on the heels of five Filipino men who fled from the temporary detention centre in Menggatal near here on Monday.

The fugitives identified as Azmi Alim, 29; Mus Mansul, 62; Totong Alipudin, 35; Amir Sulaman, 23; and Alji Sadain, 23, do not have any identification document.

Kota Kinabalu police chief ACP M. Chandra said the getaway occurred when seven men stormed the gate which was being opened by a security guard to collect food containers before they made their escape.

"However, two of the escapees were later apprehended by the detention centre's security guards,” he said in a statement here today.

He identified the duo as Sarikin Isnain, 52, and Muhammad Langkasi, 19.

Chandra urged the public to contact the police or come to the nearest police station if they came across suspicious individuals in their neighbourhood, or contact investigating officer Insp Paul Lia at 014-5969134.  — Bernama