INMATES RIOT AT MALAYSIA DRUG CENTRE

KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 (Reuters) - Between 50 and 60 inmates of a drug
rehabilitation centre on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital
rioted, breaking windows and burning a motorcycle, the official
Bernama news agency said on Sunday.

The incident happened at the Rawang Drug Rehabilitation Centre on
Saturday night, resulting in a small number of inmates escaping the
centre, Bernama said.

Johar Che Din, deputy police chief for central Selangor state was
quoted as saying four of the escapees had been captured. Bernama did
not mention any injuries.

He said among the reasons for the rioting was dissatisfaction over the
detention of two inmates on suspicion of smuggling drugs into the centre.

The inmates also claimed poor treatment at the centre which was built
in 1985 and currently housed 712 inmates, Johar was quoted as saying.

Johar said the four inmates who were recaptured were being held at the
Rawang police station.

Malaysian drug rehabilitation centres are regularly the scenes of
rioting.

Three staff were hurt in a riot in a drug rehabilitation centre in
November last year in the central Malaysian town of Karak. In
September, 64 inmates from a drug centre in northern Perlop town
escaped during a riot, and 23 people were injured in a fiery protest
at a centre in southern Kuantan town in June.