Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in George Town on Thursday, 19^th January 2012: 

The Royal Malaysia Police should explain why it did not contact the INTERPOL to apprehend the fugitive suspect in the brutal rape and murder case of Chee Gaip Yap 

The Royal Malaysia Police should explain why it did not contact the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) to apprehend the fugitive suspect in the brutal rape and murder case of Chee Gaip Yap, 25, who was found murdered in Sungai Petani in January 2006, but instead took six years to bring him to justice.

The case of Chee Gaip Yap in 2006 was one of several brutal sexual assaults against women that highlighted the failure of the Police to reduce crime in Malaysia.

It is reported that the suspect was placed on police bail in 2006, but absconded and fled to Australia before DNA tests, which confirmed his link to material found on the victim, were completed. The suspect was finally apprehended at KL International Airport upon his return from Perth on Tuesday night.

While we are all grateful that the fugitive suspect has now eventually been apprehended by the Police, this six-year delay in the apprehension of the suspect has naturally caused increased suffering to the victim's family and friends, and may even make the prosecution of the case more difficult.

The Royal Malaysia Police should explain why they waited so long for the suspect to return voluntarily to Malaysia, and why they have not previously pursued the extradition of the suspect to Malaysia through INTERPOL under the provisions of the Australia-Malaysia Extradition Treaty.

*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary General & MP for Bagan