JI Detainee Mas Selamat Kastari Escapes From Singapore Detention Centre

[des_yeo03]

JI detainee Mas Selamat Kastari escapes from Singapore detention centre

Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) detainee Mas Selamat Kastari escaped from a Singapore detention centre on Wednesday.

A statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) says Mas Selamat escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre at 4:05pm.

Mas Selamat was the leader of the Singapore JI network.

MHA says he walks with a limp and is presently at large.

He is not known to be armed.

Extensive police resources have been deployed to track him down.

Anyone with information about him can contact the police at 999.

Mas Selamat was arrested by the Indonesian police on Bintan island in January 2006 and then sent back to Singapore.

He was wanted by Singapore authorities in connection with planned attacks on Changi airport.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/331477/1/.html

My question is, how in the world did he manage to escape? :beatup:

[des_yeo03]

Mas Selamat Kastari, said to be commander of the Jemaah Islamiyah militant group's Singapore arm, slipped away from a detention center on Wednesday, the Home Affairs Ministry said.

It did not say how he escaped.

"Mas Selamat was the leader of the Singapore (Jemaah Islamiyah) network. He walks with a limp and is presently at large," the ministry said in a statement. "Extensive police resources have been deployed to track him down."

Dozens of riot police trucks were parked along main roads near the Whitley Road Detention Center, from which Mas Selamat escaped. Hundreds of police officers and military personnel fanned out in the area, setting up roadblocks to check passing cars.

The ministry said the suspect was not known to be armed.

Mas Selamat was allegedly involved in plans about seven years ago to attack Singapore targets including the U.S. Embassy, the American Club and government buildings.

Singapore, a close ally of the United States, was named an al-Qaida target in a transcript from alleged al-Qaida operative Khalid Sheikh Mohamed's Combatant Status Review Tribunal, held last year at the U.S. military detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The ministry said Mas Selamat also plotted to hijack an airplane and crash it into Singapore's main airport, Changi, in retaliation for the country's arrest and detention of some of his fellow Jemaah Islamiyah members in a crackdown on the militant group's operatives here.

The alleged schemes were never carried out.

Mas Selamat left Singapore in December 2001 following the arrests of nearly 40 other suspected Jemaah Islamiyah members.

The ministry's Web site said Indonesian authorities detained him in February 2003 on charges related to possession of falsified identification documents. They deported him to Singapore in February 2006, the ministry said.

Mas Selamat has since been held in custody under Singapore's Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite detention without trial.

Since 2002, Jemaah Islamiyah has been blamed for a series of terror attacks that have killed more than 250 people, most of them in Indonesia. Scores of its suspected operatives have been arrested across Southeast Asia since 2000.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20080228/tap-as-gen-singapore-terror-suspect-1st-832f4ab.html

[Lost_memories]

Dunno where he is hidding... danger ppl... wif crazy mind to knock down changi airport

think tis few day the news and papers will keep showing the new...
maybe tml kanna arrest liao

[Anomaly]

Wha, nice work man. A limping person can escape.....=D>

[Jankdev]

JI detainee escaped while being escorted to meet family

SINGAPORE: Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng has cited a lapse in security at the Whitley Detention Centre on Wednesday as the cause for the escape of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) member Mas Selamat Kastari.

He told MPs, who had raised the matter in Parliament, that Mas Selamat had been taken from his cell to another part of the detention centre for a visit from his family. He then asked to be allowed to visit the toilet, where he escaped.

"This should have never have happened. I am sorry that it has," said Mr Wong in an update to the House, adding that an independent investigation is underway.

The Home Affairs Minister went on to say that security at the centre has been stepped up and there should not be any speculation on what and how the escape happened.

Mr Wong described Mas Selamat as a security threat, which is why he was placed under preventive detention. But he added that officials are not taking any chances even though there is no information that Mas Selamat has any plans that threaten public security.

As to why the public was informed of the escape only some four hours after it happened, Mr Wong said the focus was to lock down the detention centre before starting a systematic operation to search for the fugitive and arrest him. That was because the security assessment was that the escape posed no imminent danger to the public.

Mr Wong said the arrest of Mas Selamat remains a priority and there will be no effort spared in tracking him down. Security at all land, sea and air checkpoints has been tightened, including areas where there is a possibility of Mas Selamat slipping out of Singapore.

In the meantime, Mr Wong has urged the public to stay calm and to report any suspicious sighting to the police, reminding that any help given to Mas Selamat is a serious crime. - CNA/sf

I thought there should be someone accompanying the detainee when he do his business. This is a typical kind of movie scenario, yet it still happens. [-X

[Koo]

Wha, nice work man. A limping person can escape.....=D>

"Prison Break" the Singapore version. Hope the police are viewing the 1st series now....:laugh: Mas Selamat may have learn a thing or 2 from the TV series, wonder if he got the "satan tatoo"....:nah:

[ultrahan]

"Prison Break" the Singapore version. Hope the police are viewing the 1st series now....:laugh: Mas Selamat may have learn a thing or 2 from the TV series, wonder if he got the "satan tatoo"....:nah:
maybe got O**** tatoo lar
hahaha anyway he's walking with a limp wonder where he can run off to

[dangoh]

Was back from Woodlands. The causeway road was packed, all the way till marsiling mrt. Traffic all messed-up, cars moving in opposite directions. All because of one terrorist..

[amos_infinitus]

how can this kinda thing happen man. seriously a impt wanted man usin a old school trick of gg toilet n running away. haiz.. n e msg is 'suspect was not known to be armed', is this said to cover in case he shoots, there will b a sth to cover it?

[kazuki]

Now for the golden qns.

Who will be the scapegoat answerable for his escape.:shooting:
Cfm someone will have to take the blame wan lor.:salute:

Shouldnt he be heavily chained up with close security??? I am sure he is on the top criminal list in sg.

His harms arent really if he can bomb places, but how he can influenced more ppl to do that. Imagine the network spreading....:duh:

[bingren]

Heard over radio today that he escaped during visiting time. He wanted to go to the toilet and somehow escaped. :question:

[Akira Fudou]

Maybe its some insider job... you know wu jian dao? haha

[Anomaly]

Whoever is escorting him at that time sure kenna jialat jialat.

[des_yeo03]

Singapore Apologizes for Terror Escape

SINGAPORE - The Singapore government apologized Thursday for the security lapse that allowed a suspected Islamic terrorist leader to escape from jail, triggering a manhunt across this usually well-policed island nation.

Authorities said Mas Selamat Kastari, who once allegedly plotted to hijack a plane and crash it into Singapore's international airport, slipped away Wednesday. He is said to be commander of the Singapore arm of Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian extremist group allied with al-Qaida.

Minister of Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng said Mas Selamat escaped after being taken from his cell to go to a room for a scheduled visit by his family at the Whitley Road Detention Center, which is in a wooded residential area in central Singapore.

Mas Selamat, 47, was allowed to first go to the restroom and escaped from the heavily guarded facility, Wong said in Parliament, without offering any specifics.

"This should never have happened," said Wong, who is also deputy prime minister. "I am sorry that it had. An independent investigation is under way and we should not speculate on what and how it happened."

Security breaches are virtually unheard of in Singapore, a small and densely populated island whose sophisticated intelligence system has been liberally used to ensure order and safety in what is one of Asia's most prosperous financial and business centers.

Among the security service's biggest successes was pre-empting alleged plots to bomb the U.S. Embassy, the American Club and government buildings in 2001 _ schemes in which Mas Selamat allegedly had a hand.

Singapore, a close ally of the United States, was named an al-Qaida target by Khalid Sheikh Mohamed, the suspected mastermind of the Sept. 11 terror attack, according to a transcript of his Combatant Status Review Tribunal last year at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay.

The Home Affairs Ministry said in a statement that "extensive police resources have been deployed to track" down Mas Selamat, who walks with a limp.

Nepalese Gurkhas who guard the jail fanned out across a nearby snake-infested forest, checking vacant bungalows and peering down drains and back alleys of private housing areas.

Thousands of police officers and soldiers set up roadblocks to check passing cars. Dozens of riot police and military trucks parked along main roads.

Students arriving for class at a nearby girls' school were ushered through the gates by teachers and parents to an assembly hall where a school official told them "not to roam around."

Security was tightened at all of Singapore's land, air and sea entry ports, Wong said. It takes less than an hour to drive the length of the island and Indonesia and Malaysia are just short boat rides away.

Malaysia's police chief said his officers and border guards had been alerted to watch for Mas Selamat, who was being held under Singapore's Internal Security Act that allows indefinite detention without trial.

Indonesian security officials said they were prepared for the likelihood that Mas Selamat might attempt to come over.

Mas Selamat "would think Indonesia is the safest place" to hide out, said Nasir Abbas, a former Jemaah Islamiyah operative who now works closely with Indonesian police.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20080229/tap-singapore-terror-suspect-832f4ab.html

[KiraDude]

watched too much Prison Break n decides to try it out himself :D

[dangoh]

This whole escape is confirm well-planned. Imagine how far can he run to, given that he is limping. bet he has liased with someone on the outside and already flee out of sg already. We might need to depend on neighbouring countries for their search now.. :)

[des_yeo03]

http://aycu18.webshots.com/image/47577/2004140848467621285_rs.jpg

An urgent worldwide security alert, or Orange Notice, has been issued by INTERPOL after the escape of an alleged leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group from a jail in Singapore.

Mas Selamat bin Kastari escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre on Wednesday 27 February where he was being held following his deportation from Indonesia to Singapore in February 2006.

Following a request from Singapore, INTERPOL issued the Orange Notice - which includes Kastari’s photograph and fingerprints, essential elements to help law enforcement officers in their search and eventual verification of his identity when located and arrested – to each of its 186 National Central Bureaus (NCBs).

“Singapore is clearly doing all that it can on a national level to locate this fugitive and through issuing an Orange Notice, INTERPOL and all of its member countries can support these efforts on an international scale,” said Executive Director of Police Services Jean-Michel Louboutin.

The Orange Notice was originally created to warn police, public entities and other international organizations of potential threats related to disguised weapons, explosives and other dangerous materials; however it can also be issued by INTERPOL’s General Secretariat in Lyon, France for any act or event which poses a risk to the safety and security of citizens around the world.

http://www.interpol.int/Public/News/2008/OrangeNotice20080228.asp

[zulufili]

i just have a feeling that whatever reported by the media is not entirely true...reli impossible to believe that he escaped through the toilet..something definitely fishy here...anyway, i heard from a few of my frens,the police started the search on tuesday night,guards was also activated that night...but this was only reported on wednesday night only...i wonder y..hmmm....

anyway,its reli kinda gonna be hard to track hm,cuz imo,he look like a typical middle age malay man...nothing unique about his features that strikes out...except for his limp...

[[soundwave]]

Just passed out as an MP. WOO HOO. Now on OPS becos of him.:beatup:

[Koo]

If someone offer his annual salary as bounty will sweeten the search of this limping terrorist better than hiding his head in a hole.[-X

The MHA is getting international attention as information of Mas Selamat and his escape is so slow coming.:duh: Wonder how the Indonesians who caught him in the 1st place feel about his escape, dun know to cry or to laugh.:laugh: :cry:

[Jankdev]

Ok lah, now waiting for Gment to announce a prize money on his capture. CNY toto angbao never kenna, got another chance to make it. :laugh: not gonna happen anyway. Any personnel who caught him surely triple promotion. :mrgreen:

[dangoh]

Scarli the indonesian police caught him again for the 2nd time. How would our singapore government feel?

[Koo]

Scarli the indonesian police caught him again for the 2nd time. How would our singapore government feel?

They feel they got their $$$ worth in investing into a "3G" S*F and other uniform service.

OSAMA's bounty = US$25 million

AL-ZAWAHIRI's bounty = US$25 million

Mas Selamat = priceless really priceless I'm not joking man! Not a dime/cent whatsoever!:moneyface :nah: :beatup:

http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/terrorists/terbinladen.htm

[Hades]

Just receive a MMS from police(which I guess so), showing his photo and information about him. Asking us to report 999 if spotted him :|

How progressive for them to send MMS to civilian sia :laugh:

[des_yeo03]

Just receive a MMS from police(which I guess so), showing his photo and information about him. Asking us to report 999 if spotted him :|

How progressive for them to send MMS to civilian sia :laugh:

There's such a thing? :o

Edited

Just found this piece of news...

Telcos to help in search for JI leader

SINGAPORE'S three telcos will lend the police a hand in the search for Jemaah Islamiah leader Mas Selamat Bin Kastari.

Operations Department (Community Involvement) Assistant Director Evon Ng said: 'The three telos have stepped forward to help the Police by sending photos of the fugitive to all the mobile phone subscribers in Singapore. We are encouraged by their strong support.'

The telcos will broadcast a lookout message to their 3.9 million subscribers, the police said in a press release on Saturday.

'Subscribers of M1, Starhub and Singtel will receive the photograph of Mas Selamat via MMS free of charge,' the police said.

A single message will also be sent to subscribers of the two Telcos from 12 noon on Saturday. Due to the large number of handphone users in Singapore, the whole process of reaching all the subscribers is expected to take several hours.

SingTel will also be sending an e-mail with the JI leader's photograph and physical details to all their Singnet users.

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20080301-52190.html

[Koo]

3 days / 72 hrs and counting JI terrorist Mas Selamat must be damm happy, while someone is digging deeper to hid his head.

With picture and news reports, looks like SG is not "3G","Alway ready" and "Total Defence" like what is always totted by our media. While soldier and other unifrom groups toiled along in the serach of JI terrorist Mas Selamat. Problems, speculation and reports are surfacing are not helping with the serach.

1) Where are the NVGs and termal sights? Many are using the MK1 eyeball as seen in photos and news.

2) No FLIR equiped helicopter is used in the serach.
(Buy AH-64s for fun, need to learn from IAF and SWAT)

3) No reports of an immendiate closure of check points within the earlier hours of escape.
(Reports says he may have used the KTM railway to escape)

4) No report of serach in SG sewage system. I know the sewage cover in SG is not welded shut like other countires to pervent riots.

5) Is Malaysia and Indoesian being asked to look out for JI terrorist Mas Selamat by SG or again "save face method" use interpol.

6) No bounty for a world class terrorist?
(U think interpol will reward you, throw a medal at U more likely.)

7) No special hotline??? I hope 999 works fine, if put on hold $"@%!

8) Who say JI terrorist Mas Selamat is not dangerous. (media did). He limps but his hands are fine and still can harm anyone in the public. Does any public member dare to go toe to toe with him?

(My personnal experience with 999/police to catch a PRC conman, they arrive 20 mins even when their NPP is less 2km away......! Worst is the call operator tell u not chase.)

[Gabriel_Lucifer]

lucky i didn't receive his picture, if not i'll delete and save some memory...
wonder how he got out...
hmmm makes me wonder.... (if someone is behind this thing...)

[bingren]

I saw his picture on the bus today. Both unshaved and clean shaved one. I heard talkingcock.com has some other versions (for fun).

[wyvern]

Saw the news yesterday that mentioned under normal walking, its not obivious to see Mas Selamat limping unless he is running. I wonder why in the first place, the news release for public to observe him as limping...?

Could it be possible that Mas Selamat is NOT limp at all in the first place..? :)

I guess someone in the force is going to shoulder the full responsibilty for this...:(

[Gabriel_Lucifer]

hmm that means alot of "false" statements given by the media might be wrong...
maybe he had a plastic surgery liao lolx!

[des_yeo03]

JI fugitive could break cover

As police and army officers and their tracker dogs continued their intensive search of the forested areas in various parts of Singapore yesterday, the public kept their eyes peeled for fugitive Mas Selamat Kastari.

He is believed to be still within the Republic’s borders and having gone for more than 100 hours without shelter or food since his escape last Wednesday afternoon is likely to break cover.

Believed to be on his own, this could be the crucial period when an emotionally erratic and desperate man on the run, makes his move, most likely under the cover of night.

Most in Singapore know his face many have received MMS photos of the man from the three telcos but the police have added another element to watch out for: Any person wearing ill—fitting clothes, avoiding eye contact, or trying to conceal his appearance by wearing a cap, sunglasses or coat.

Police say that Mas Selamat, a trained mechanic, is adept at jumpstarting motor vehicles. “He would try to look for means of transportation ... It is possible that he may be able to start a car, motorcycle or even a motor boat given his background as a mechanic,” a top police officer told reporters yesterday during a briefing at the Special Operations Command (SOC) the first since the escape that launched Singapore’s largest manhunt.

Said Assistant Commissioner Wong Hong Kuan, Director of Operations: “We believe that he is unaided in his escape. Mas Selamat needs money, food, shelter and clothing to try and escape from Singapore.”

One new point: The former Jemaah Islamiyah leader’s limp in his left leg is only noticeable when he runs or walks briskly.

AC Wong urged the public to be extra vigilant Mas Selamat could have stolen a knife to arm himself and to report any thefts immediately. If you spot him, call 999, but do not try to apprehend him, was the advice from the police.

Why was the public only notified some four hours after the escape?

AC Wong said the priority in “the first few hours” was to step up border security and get the search going. “We needed to be sure of what was actually happening, before giving out information. In any operation, we always refine our tactics, including managing communications to the public.”

Even as he spoke, more than 300 calls have been received by the police, said Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, who was also visiting the SOC base, to check on the morale of the search party.

Paying tribute to the troops, Mr Wong said all leads provided by the public were being followed up. No stone would be left unturned, he assured Singaporeans.

Today understands that last Wednesday at about 5.15pm 70 minutes after Mas Selamat escaped a bus commuter reported seeing a man, believed to be the fugitive, at a petrol kiosk near the detention centre.

Four hours before the prison break, a SingPost van was stolen after the driver had left the engine running near the Woodlands Civic Centre. The stolen vehicle has still not been found. Authorities would not say if it was linked to the Mas Selamat hunt.

“We are grateful for the support from Singaporeans, community leaders and corporate bodies. All efforts count, big or small,” said Mr Wong.
He acknowledged the inconvenience to travellers from the 100—per—cent security searches at the land checkpoints.

“I thank them for bearing with us,” he added. Border controls at all land, air and sea entry ports as well as unauthorised immigration points remain on high alert.

Singapore’s reputation “has taken a knock”, admitted Mr Wong. “We must learn from mistakes so that we do not repeat them. We will recover from this.”

The authorities do not consider Mas Selamat an immediate threat as the JI network in Singapore has been crippled. “But in the long term, who knows?” said Mr Wong.

The Internal Security Department has been speaking to Mas Selamat’s family and asking them “a lot of questions to see if they know anything”, he said. He was heartened by the spontaneous community response, where many Singaporeans from all walks of life took the initiative to disseminate pamphlets and posters on Mas Selamat.

This was in addition to efforts by grassroots leaders to distribute police fliers at various places such as town centres, MRT stations and bus interchanges. In all, over 54,000 posters and flyers have been distributed.

More than 1,000 officers are involved in the manhunt. SOC Commander, Assistant Commissioner Raymond Yeo said the search could go on “indefinitely as we have the manpower and the resources”.

The break—out has also dominated Internet chatter with more than 400 people joining five groups on popular social networking site Facebook to discuss Mas Selamat’s escape.

Interpol has also issued a red alert for Mas Selamat on top of a previous orange alert which means that any law enforcement officer among the international police network’s 186 member countries can help arrest him on the spot.

Indonesian authorities have mobilised its navy, army and police around the Riau archipelago to track down Mas Selamat. Police officers are monitoring the ferry terminals while naval ships are checking trawlers and fishing boats.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20080303/tap-332494-231650b.html

[Koo]

I wonder if any HH member have thought of if super heroes/creatures/etc can help find MS?:thinking:

I choose Batman!;) The man for the job! :evil:

[Koo]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/333838/1/.html


SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that the escape of Jemaah Islamiyah leader Mas Selamat Kastari is a setback and is something that should never have happened.

Making his first public comments on an issue that has gripped Singaporeans, Mr Lee on Sunday also called on the people to "close ranks and bounce back, chastened but stronger and more on guard".

With Mas Selamat still on the run after 12 days, it is not surprising the hunt for the missing fugitive remains the talk of the town.

In his first public comments on the issue, Mr Lee said the authorities are not absolutely sure yet what happened. But they will find out what went wrong and "fix it".

A Committee of Inquiry has been set up to look into how the escape occurred.

Mr Lee said, "As Minister Mentor said, we are not infallible. If we are not careful, we make mistakes. When we do, we better find out and put it right. I think that the security agencies are taking it very seriously - ISD certainly.

"I think the police and the Gurkha unit and the SAF forces, which are now (trying to) catch him, they are (carrying out) the operation with a lot of resources and close cooperation. I have been talking to the ministers responsible and I think we have a good chance of catching him, provided he is still in Singapore."

When asked if he believed that Mas Selamat is in Singapore, Mr Lee replied, "We have no reason to believe that he has left."

However, while security forces will learn and grow from this, Mr Lee said such a mistake must never be repeated.

Asked if it has affected the country's reputation, Mr Lee said, "It's not done (any) good for our reputation, but I don't think people believe that we are just like any other place where you can have television sets and other things in jail these days...we are different, this was a lapse. What to do, it has happened."

Meanwhile, Mr Lee said it was good to see how Singaporeans of all races had come together to distribute flyers to residents and maintain watch. And he called on the population to overcome this setback and close ranks. - CNA/ms

How typical for the son to speak out after his daddy. Wonder what he will do to his cousin who screwed up or will he leave the job to daddy again who will be back from the Middle East trip......:|

[zulufili]

The younger lee is never as firm and charismatic as his father..still prefer Mr Goh Chok Tong...not into dynasties..haha

[Koo]

The younger lee is never as firm and charismatic as his father..still prefer Mr Goh Chok Tong...not into dynasties..haha

Mr Goh is LKY's younger cousin from his father's side relative.:|

[zulufili]

haha,sori,didnt know that but as long as different surname,im fine with dat....haha

[des_yeo03]

Pls keep to topic....Thanks

[Koo]

Mas Selamat Kastari's bounty curent stand at a measely sum of S$9888

(someone at fault damm neow to fork out $$$):beatup:

[wyvern]

Btw, heard that the hunt is still on for him.. Anyone affected by this incident...? Like being enlisted into reservist for in camp training just to search for this guy or anyone travelling through and fro from Malaysia to Sg for work...?

My company director actually gets affected, he travels thru and fro to JB and every day after work, he is caught in the jam... :)

[Koo]

My company director actually gets affected, he travels thru and fro to JB and every day after work, he is caught in the jam... :)

Take train seems to be a fast method to get into Malaysia for now as for now. The KMT railway station at Keppel road have seen a increase in passenger number for a few days since the news of the causeway jams.

[bingren]

Take train seems to be a fast method to get into Malaysia for now as for now. The KMT railway station at Keppel road have seen a increase in passenger number for a few days since the news of the causeway jams.

It was reported over the radio that the number of commuters on weekdays doubled to 100 pax a day and weekends increased seven folds to 400 pax a day. (read, normal days 50 pax a day and 58 pax on weekends). Indirect effect of the hunt for Mas Selamat.

[Koo]

Indirect effect of the hunt for Mas Selamat.

Talking about indirect effects, its seems our dear "goverment" have been very silent about the issue, it is like they learn to hide like Mas Selamat.

[Leslie]

Talking about indirect effects, its seems our dear "goverment" have been very silent about the issue, it is like they learn to hide like Mas Selamat.
... so if you were them, what would you do?

They talk too little, pple will say them. Talk too much, will also kena say. Give good story, pple will say they talk shit. Give incredible story, pple will say they talk shit. Whatever they say or do can't mask the screwup liao, everybody knows and they know everybody knows.

I'm not defending screwups. But I ask you again, if you were the government, now how?

[Hades]

because of him, all the traffic jam at the Kranji, custom side. WTF :angry: On thursday evening, was stuck inside the bus 170 for half and hour. In the end turn up alighting the bus and walk all the way to Marsiling and than to woodland centre, than to the custom.

Saw lots of commuters(including me and my wife) walking on the road like big groups of armies marching down the road sia :beatup:

Hope that the garment do something about the traffic to make life more easier for all the cars and people like us :pray2:

[Lost_memories]

erm did they annouance how MS breakfree from prison? n how they found out he is lost?

[des_yeo03]

erm did they annouance how MS breakfree from prison? n how they found out he is lost?

If you read from the beginning, its not announced, how they found out he is lost? Ermm, when they cannot find him after his toilet visit? :beatup:

[linkin]

singapore police malu liao lah. how can he escape in the 1st place ? unless someone inside help him .... so many days liao still cant find him i think he already not in SG liao loh ... sibeh malu the whole world is watch SG now

[y1ch]

singapore police malu liao lah. how can he escape in the 1st place ? unless someone inside help him .... so many days liao still cant find him i think he already not in SG liao loh ... sibeh malu the whole world is watch SG now

true. the whole world. once singapore was known as a safe place... now wat?

[Akira Fudou]

Someone has to be responsible for it... and im expecting that someone will have to step down...but til now... they are keeping quiet... boooo booooo

[Lost_memories]

here where got so easy step down one...

[jdelpiero]

singapore police malu liao lah. how can he escape in the 1st place ? unless someone inside help him .... so many days liao still cant find him i think he already not in SG liao loh ... sibeh malu the whole world is watch SG now

i think the rest of the world has bigger fish to fry..

[cyc]

i think the rest of the world has bigger fish to fry..

I seconded that :) Other than S'poreans, I don't think many pple are following this news anymore

[Gabriel_Lucifer]

I seconded that :) Other than S'poreans, I don't think many pple are following this news anymore

True true... other countries have their own BIGGER news to care about... eg: Tibet riot with the Chinese gov... Us/London on the case of a little gal named sharron who went missing for 24 days and was found few days back... Ya i was watching CNN & BBC but nothing about this case...

[jdelpiero]

Officers responsible for Mas Selamat’s escape to be disciplined

SINGAPORE: Officers responsible for Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) detainee Mas Selamat Kastari’s escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre (WRDC) will be disciplined and penalised, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said in Parliament on Monday.

Mr Wong said this will include those at the junior officer level, all the way up the chain of command to the supervisory and management levels of the detention centre.

The Commissioner of Police and the director of the Internal Security Department (ISD) have also been told to replace all the WRDC officers — as identified in the Committee of Inquiry report — who were responsible for Mas Selamat’s escape.

Mr Wong, who had spoken to the officers from the ISD and the Gurkha contingent of the police force, added: "I can see that they feel the disappointment most acutely because they have fallen short of the high standards that Singaporeans have come to expect from them."

"This security lapse in WRDC came as a rude and painful shock to them; all the more when the mistakes have turned out to be so simple as to appear silly and incredible. I was shocked and disappointed when first informed of Mas Selamat’s escape on 27 February 2008 via a message on my handphone," he said.

While calling this incident a "dark stain" on the successes the ISD had against terrorism, Mr Wong also highlighted some of the department’s achievements, and he called for a balance in how the whole episode is viewed.

He said, "Do not misunderstand me. I mention these facts not to absolve or excuse the ISD from responsibility for its officers’ mistakes or lapses. I mention these facts because we need to be fair and balanced in our judgement and not ’throw the baby out with the bath water’.

"Yes, this episode of Mas Selamat’s escape is a bad mistake and officers who did not carry out their duties as required will be held accountable.

"But ISD — the organisation — and the many dedicated and committed officers who continue to serve in it are resolved to pick themselves up, recover their spirits and move forward relentlessly in their national mission. We must support them in this."

Mr Wong added that it was absolutely essential to find out whether Mas Selamat had been assisted by anyone inside the centre, as not detecting this could lead to more escapes.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) — through a series of interviews, forensic examination of the site, and polygraph tests — found no evidence to suggest any collusion on the part of Internal Security Department officers, detention centre staff or guards involved.

It concluded that the escape was the result of a combination of factors and was not under the control of any one individual. The attorney—general has thus seen no need to press any charges.

However, while there is no evidence to suggest external help in the escape, it is not clear whether Mas Selamat could have secured help after his escape, which is still being looked into.

Mr Wong also acknowledged the disappointment and frustration Singaporeans feel over Mas Selamat’s escape from detention.

"I understand their frustration. This incident should not have happened. But since it did happen, my priority had to be — to establish the full facts of what (happened) and how it happened, and at the same time, galvanise and focus the energies of the home team and its partners, including the community, to tackle the situation at hand," he said.

He added that despite their disappointment over this security lapse, Singaporeans have stepped forward to work with the government to address the immediate challenge.

"I am deeply grateful for the way Singaporeans have rallied behind our efforts even as they rightly expect a proper accounting," he said.

He thanked the many Singaporeans who have actively put their minds to the problem — to share their ideas and help the security agencies. — CNA/ac

[jdelpiero]

make a sentence with the words 'scapegoat', 'condemned', 'career' & 'gone'


what annoys me is that the great minister has no responsibility at all.

Oh that's right.. that's because he was sitting in his multimillion dollar house,
receiving messages on his phone, while the men were doing all the grunt work that he was nowhere near at that time.

of course he has no responsibility.

[cyc]

I still dunno how it happened... the guards escorting him to the toilet didn't see him pee meh? maybe the guards told him "u pee urself har" while they waited outside smoking and chatting... after 3 minutes waiting, guard A told guard B "eh, why he take so long har?", and guard B replied "dunno lah, later then check, my ciggie not finished yet"

[Koo]

I wonder if "the goverment and MHA" will let the misinformations given during the hunt for MSK slide. MSk was not limping unless running/jogging in the 1st place, to make it worst not wearing prison attire during family visits..... and now definately not in SG! :angry:

[kazuki]

From the very start they die die insist that this fellow is still in sg, its already not true...
Its more like to calm down the citizens and hopefully they find the shit outside asap.
But they seem to have forgotten that our neighbouring countries may be the best place to house them when u consider in the religion beliefs.

All these are simply like a scene from 90s hk drama that tv viewers are yawning over the "i know this will happen" storyline.

Now:
SINGAPORE: Officers responsible for Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) detainee Mas Selamat Kastari’s escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre (WRDC) will be disciplined and penalised, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said in Parliament on Monday.

Mr Wong said this will include those at the junior officer level, all the way up the chain of command to the supervisory and management levels of the detention centre.
I am just curious. How abt someone even higher than that? those sitting in the nice warm seats up skyhigh?

This will lead to doubts in how much we can believe in what they say.
On the current isssues:
No problem with rice stock? No problem with inflation?

Lets see what they will say 6mths later.
The whole world, almost all countries are having problems on those issues, and we arent?:thinking: Big boys like the us and jp are sweating big time, and we are cool abt it.=D>
Amazing i say...:salute:

[Leslie]

I am just curious. How abt someone even higher than that? those sitting in the nice warm seats up skyhigh?
Not according to what I briefly scanned in today's My Paper ...

No problem with rice stock? No problem with inflation? ...
Big boys like the us and jp are sweating big time, and we are cool abt it.

I won't comment about inflation, but to be fair about the rice situation - while increasing cost is something no-one can deny or escape from, I think that SG's demand in terms of absolute needs is not large, thus putting us in a better position to secure what we need.

[Godmaster]

Inappropriate posts removed.

Stick to topic guys. :)

[bingren]

I saw on mobile TV that there were breach of security in the detention centre. In 2007, they already found that the window of that toilet does not have grills installed. Instead of installing the window grills, the handle was sawed off. There was also something about chain of command. When the guard felt that Mas Selamat was taking too long in the toilet, he went to ask his fellow guard. Had he opened the cubicle, at least they would have discovered his escape earlier. Anyone saw the news?

[Gabriel_Lucifer]

I saw on mobile TV that there were breach of security in the detention centre. In 2007, they already found that the window of that toilet does not have grills installed. Instead of installing the window grills, the handle was sawed off. There was also something about chain of command. When the guard felt that Mas Selamat was taking too long in the toilet, he went to ask his fellow guard. Had he opened the cubicle, at least they would have discovered his escape earlier. Anyone saw the news?

yup saw the news about this thing... and they also say he happened to climb over the fence where there's a wall intercepting it... this might help him to climb over easily... and why must they change their "home clothes" instead of the "jail clothes" when there's a family visit? i find no logic in that...

[Koo]

why must they change their "home clothes" instead of the "jail clothes" when there's a family visit? i find no logic in that...

It is part of the "freedom" a prisoner in detention center is allowed. Like the outdoor/exercise time everyday whereby a prisoner allowed to keep him healthy in both mind and body.

[des_yeo03]

Singapore Sacks Superintendent Of Detention Centre Over Escape

SINGAPORE (AFP) - - Singapore has sacked the superintendent of a detention centre where an alleged extremist leader escaped through a toilet window, the interior minister said Monday, while his deputy has been demoted.

Two elite Nepalese Gurkha guards who had escorted Mas Selamat Kastari to the toilet were also demoted, Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng told parliament.

Kastari, the alleged Singapore leader of the extremist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), made his escape from Whitley Road Detention Centre on February 27 after asking for a break during a visit by family members.

His flight punctured Singapore's reputation for solid security and sparked the biggest manhunt in the country's history.

Kastari remains at large and is believed to have fled to neighbouring Indonesia, where other JI leaders are suspected to be based.

The superintendent and his deputy were the two most senior officers in charge of "ground management" at the centre, which is run by the Internal Security Department, Wong said.

The pair were "held accountable for the lack of supervision over the subordinate officers implicated, which resulted in lapses" that enabled Kastari to escape, the minister said.

A special duty operative, her supervisor, two other officers and the chief warder were also disciplined, Wong said.

An inquiry into the escape cited windows without grilles, surveillance cameras that were not working and a slow reaction from guards as likely contributing to Kastari's flight.

Kastari was accused of plotting to hijack a plane in order to crash it into Singapore's Changi Airport in 2001 but was never charged. He was being held in the city-state under a law that allows for detention without trial.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080526/tap-singapore-attacks-escape-ji-06f3cb7.html

[jdelpiero]

oooo.. scapegoats...

there'll be a few unhappy faces in the morning.

[Koo]

Scapegoats maybe used as a cover up but the truth hurts as the escape is more to do with the cost cutting measures done in the past in many government departments. I cannot belief that there are people insisting MSK is still in SG........what a joke!:duh:

[cyc]

source from CNA
S$1m reward for information leading to capture of Mas Selamat

SINGAPORE - A cash reward of S$1 million is being offered for information leading to the apprehension of Mas Selamat inside or outside Singapore.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng revealed this in Parliament on Monday in response to a question on fugitive JI leader Mas Selamat.

The million dollar reward has been put up by two private individuals who approached the Home Affairs Ministry.

DPM Wong said the individuals had asked the ministry to operationalise their proposal because they wished to remain anonymous to protect themselves, families or business interests in the region from becoming a target for retaliation.

The House was also reminded that the Singapore Police Force, as a policy does not offer cash rewards for information on fugitives and unsolved crimes,
or for assistance from the public.

However, the authorities do not object if private corporations and individuals wish to offer cash reward as a labour-supply company and a non-government organisation did in March, offering $50,000 and $5,000 respectively for information on Mas Selamat.

On the whereabouts of Mas Selamat, the DPM said that up till now, Singapore's security agencies have not received any information from their Indonesian counterparts to confirm that the JI fugitive is hiding in Indonesia.

Neither has domestic intelligence shown that the Singapore JI leader has left the country.

"We obviously cannot dismiss the possibility that Mas Selamat could have managed to escape Singapore for another country. Singapore is not a fortress" added Mr Wong.

However, if Mas Selamat has escaped abroad, DPM Wong said Singapore will work with the relevant foreign counterparts to track him down and bring him back into custody in Singapore.

Parliament was told that given the time since Mas Selamat's escape, the scenario of Mas Selamat being harboured by sympathisers inside or outside Singapore must logically be treated as increasingly plausible. However, there is no intelligence at present to substantiate it said Mr Wong.

[Hades]

wow 1 million, it's better than striking toto :|

[dangoh]

chances are as hard as toto also. but at least there is some kind of motivation to drive ppl on.

[y1ch]

they should have annouce the reward long time ago :laugh:

[des_yeo03]

they should have annouce the reward long time ago :laugh:

Correct me if i m wrong, the 1 mil reward is just being offered? I do know of certain amount of rewards being announced earlier on, but not as much as the 1 mil being offered by this 2 businessman now.

[Koo]

Businessman A and B in the news is as good as B1 & B2 from the kiddy show "Bananas in pyjamas"=)). They sound like "businessman" from the dark side with no sound mind.:evil:

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, B1?" "I think I am, B2!". Crazy bananas

[Godmaster]

Saw the news that he has been arrested in Malaysia. Hope he will be watched more closely this time round. Was doing my ict when he made his escape last year and it causes quite some disturbance with all the security issues. My upcoming ict is in july, hope it will be a peaceful one.

[darknight]

welcome 'back' MSK... and im sure u will be here 4 good this time..

[jdelpiero]

Mas Selamat reportedly arrested in Malaysia

SINGAPORE: Mas Selamat Kastari, the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader who escaped from Whitley Road Detention Centre last year, has reportedly been arrested in Malaysia.

Mas Selamat gave his guards the slip while he was being taken to the toilet at the detention centre on 27 February 2008.

He was involved in a plot to hijack a plane and crash it into Singapore’s Changi Airport.

Mas Selamat’s escape resulted in the dismissal of the detention centre’s superintendent over security lapses. The superintendent’s deputy was demoted.

The two were the most senior officers in charge of the ground management of the detention centre, and were among six Internal Security Department (ISD) officers charged over the escape.

Mas Selamat was first arrested by the Indonesian police on Bintan island in January 2006.

He was detained for using a fake identity card.

Based on investigations then, Indonesia’s elite anti—terror police then discovered he was the leader of the Singapore Jemaah Islamiyah network, a terrorist organisation.

They then deported him in 2006 to Singapore where he was detained at Whitley Road Detention Centre under the Internal Security Act. — CNA

[jdelpiero]

Selamat datang to Mas Selamat..

Welcome to Singapore you terrorist XXXXhead..

[Hades]

Never thought that Malaysia police is so efficiency this time :) Should give some applause for them =D>

So he had been hiding in Malaysia all this time. Imagine the whole Singapore had combed the surrounding area and do 100% check at our check point during his escaped, how do he managed to get his way out of Singapore which I really wonder :thinking:

There is a big loop here for Singapore's security :beatup:

Hopefully this time round, the detention center gonna do their jobs

[des_yeo03]

Escape by 'flotation device'

WANTED terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari used an 'improvised flotation device' in his dash to freedom out of Singapore's northern shore to Johor.

This happened 'soon after' his escape from the Whitley Detention Centre on Feb 27 last year where he was being held under the Internal Securtiy Act.

These details were disclosed by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kang Seng at a press conference on Friday.

Mr Wong said that, as far as the authorities know, no local Jemaah Islamiah network was involved in aiding Mas Selamat's dash from Whitley to Singapore's northern shore.

Mas Selamat was arrested on Apr 1 by Malaysian authorities after a tip-off from the Singapore side late last year.

The Singapore government was told of the arrest soon after it occurred, said Mr Wong, who is also Home Affairs Minister.

No date has been fixed to return Mas Selamat to Singapore. 'The Malaysian authorities want to interview him and in good time he will be returned to Singapore,' Mr Wong said.

He added that the arrest is the result of the strong co-operation between security agencies on both sides. Intelligence leads provided by Singapore's Internal Security Department late last year played a key role leading to the capture.

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein on Friday confirmed that Mas Selamat has been captured and is being held under internal security laws.

He said the Jemaah Islamiah militant, who has been on the run for over a year, is being interrogated by Malaysian, Indonesian and Singaporean officials.

'He was planning something that allowed us to arrest him,' said Mr Hishamuddin, declining to give more details on his arrest and whereabouts.

Source (http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_374015.html)

[Leslie]

See lah ... Chow Yun Fatt teach people so many bad things from his "Man in the Net" TV series. Improvised flotation device, heh

[Anomaly]

Maybe he can write a book. Then it will be made into a movie. :laugh:

[des_yeo03]

Mas Selamat’s re—arrest not the end of Singapore’s problem

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said Singapore’s security challenge is to keep up its guard without getting fatigued or complacent.

In his first remarks on the capture of Mas Selamat Kastari, Mr Lee said Singapore must not think that the re—arrest of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader is the end of its problem.

He said the terrorism situation in Southeast Asia is under control, but the threat is far from over. He added that the price of security is eternal vigilance.

In a statement to the media on Saturday, the Prime Minister also said information about the capture of Mas Selamat on 1 April was not made public earlier, because of a prior agreement with the Malaysian authorities.

Mr Lee said he was told about the arrest by his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak on 11 April during an impromptu four—eye lunch in Thailand’s Pattaya after the ASEAN meeting was called off due to demonstrations.

He thanked Datuk Seri Najib for Malaysia’s generous support and help and told him Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Wong Kan Seng had earlier told him of the arrest.

Mr Lee said he was happy and relieved that Mas Selamat had been found and arrested before he could do any harm.

But Malaysia had asked Singapore to keep this information quiet for the time being, so Singapore respected this and held the information very tightly in order not to jeopardise the operation.

But on May 7 afternoon during a weekly pre—Cabinet meeting lunch, Mr Wong received a phone call informing him that the Internal Security Department (ISD) had received a request from the The Straits Times to confirm a scoop that Mas Selamat had been arrested by the Malaysian authorities.

As the news had leaked, the Singapore government had no choice but to confirm the story.

Ministers who were present at the lunch were completely taken by surprise when Mr Wong told them that Mas Selamat had been arrested.

In his statement, Mr Lee also thanked all officers involved in tracking down Mas Selamat over the past year.

He said he never had a doubt that Mas Selamat would be found because he knew the quality and commitment of the ISD officers working on this.

He said the ISD had recovered quickly from the mistakes which led to Mas Selamat’s escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre in February last year.

Mr Lee also thanked the ISD and its Malaysian counterpart, the Special Branch, for working closely together.

— CNA/ir

Source (http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20090509/tap-076-mas-selamats-re-arrest-public-ea-231650b.html)

[des_yeo03]

Report: Top terror suspect hid in Malaysia village

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - The Islamic militant suspect recently recaptured after escaping from a Singapore jail avoided detection for a year by living in an isolated Malaysian hamlet and rarely leaving his wooden house on stilts, a newspaper said Monday.

The Star daily reported that Mas Selamat Kastari, one of the most wanted terror suspects in the region, lived in Tawakal, a village of less than 100 people in the southern Johor state. It said residents were shocked to find out the fugitive had been living among them.

"He never spoke to anyone and kept to himself. And he never prayed at the local prayer room," resident Mohamad Saat, 56, was quoted as saying.

Mas Selamat, the alleged Singapore commander of the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah group, was sometimes seen gardening or fishing in a canal behind his house, and went out rarely. If he did, it was usually after dark, dressed in a long white robe and white turban, the report said.

Mas Selamat escaped from a high-security Singapore jail on Feb. 27, 2008, which severely embarrassed the city-state known for its rigorous security. According to Singapore authorities, he was caught again on April 1 by Malaysian security forces.

Malaysian authorities have confirmed the arrest but shared no more details. Police on Monday would not confirm The Star's unattributed report.

Mas Selamat, a Singaporean citizen of Indonesian origin, is alleged to have plotted to hijack a plane and fly it into Singapore international airport, its government says. He was caught by the Indonesian police in 2006 and handed over to Singapore, where he was being held under the Internal Security Act that allows indefinite detention without trial.

He escaped detention in Singapore by wriggling out a bathroom window just ahead of a scheduled visit by his family.

Mas Selamat, who walks with a limp, is said to have used an improvised flotation device to swim across the Strait of Johor _ the narrow waterway that separates Malaysia from Singapore _ after his escape.

It was unclear why he ended up in Tawakal, where he rented the basement of a two-story wooden house on stilts, and how authorities learned of his whereabouts. The Star said Tawakal lies in a remote neighborhood surrounded by oil palms about 7 miles (10 kilometers) from the North-South Expressway that stretches the length of Malaysia.

The report said Mas Selamat was captured in a pre-dawn police raid on his house. The landlord of the house, who lived upstairs, was also arrested, it said.

It quoted resident Mohamad Saat Marjo as saying that some 30 armed policemen surrounded the house and ordered Mas Selamat to come out before breaking through the doors. They led him out with his face covered in a dark blue checkered cloth.

Police are now holding Mas Selamat under Malaysia's Internal Security Act, which is similar to Singapore's ISA. Malaysia has not said when or if he will be handed back to Singapore.

Source (http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20090511/tap-as-malaysia-terror-suspect-b3c65ae.html)

[Koo]

Mas Selamat Kastari has earn a 2 year prison stay under the ISA of Malaysia. I wonder if the S$1 million bounty is given away already or not?:thinking: