Selangor police chief Shazeli Kahar said the operation to recapture the prisoner also involved other security agencies.

“Selangor police headquarters can confirm that on April 18, at approximately 5pm, the detainee who escaped on April 9 was successfully recaptured at Jalan Batu 14, Jalan Gombak Lama, Selangor,” he said in a statement.

“Selangor police appreciates the cooperation by all parties who assisted with the efforts that led to the successful recapture of the detainee, to ensure that public safety and order continue to be preserved.”

The escape had triggered a nationwide search operation after the detainee fled while being transferred following court proceedings at the Shah Alam courthouse on April 9.

The prisons department had earlier said it was working with police and other security agencies to track down the man, identified as Muhammad Hassan, 24, who is facing charges related to sexual offences involving a child as well as immigration offences.

The incident also sparked public criticism, including from Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, who offered a RM5,000 reward for information leading to the fugitive’s arrest, saying the escape reflected a serious security lapse.

“How does a detainee in full custody simply run off during a transfer? How is such a lapse even possible in a high-security environment?” he said.

Previously police said the case is being investigated for negligence or possible breach of standard operating procedures, with statements recorded from officers and witnesses.

The prisons department is also reviewing viral CCTV footage allegedly showing the escape, as investigations continue into how the incident occurred.