Channel NewsAsia - Monday, March
17
SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said the
Committee of Inquiry’s (COI) hearings on Mas Selamat Kastari’s
escape cannot be made public because it will have unrestricted
access to the Internal Security Department’s (ISD) classified
information.
However, the government will release full details on how the
Jemaah Islamiyah leader escaped and the kinds of precaution that
have to be taken in the future.
DPM Wong, who is also the Home Affairs Minister, was speaking to
reporters on Sunday on the sidelines of a constituency visit to
Shunfu.
In the meantime, authorities are not letting up on the search
for Singapore’s most wanted man, Mas Selamat, who escaped from
Whitley Road Detention Centre on 27 February.
It was announced on 2 March that a three—member Committee of
Inquiry had been tasked to find out what led to his escape. These
three members are retired judge Goh Joon Seng, ex—police
commissioner Tee Tua Ba, and deputy secretary at the Home Affairs
Ministry, Choong May Ling.
Recently, the Workers’ Party suggested that President S R Nathan
appoint a Commission of Inquiry under the Prisons Act instead so
that investigations can be made public.
The opposition party added that the president could "direct that
certain information not be made public".
Mr Wong explained that regardless of the Committee set up to
investigate the incident, parts of the report will still have to
remain classified.
He said: "The Committee will have to look into the security, the
detention, the investigation as well as the intelligence gathering
of the Whitley Road Detention Centre and the ISD officers. These
matters cannot be made public.
"If it’s made public, it’ll compromise the confidentiality of
the investigation as well as the intelligence gathered so far. That
being the case, it’s therefore important that the officers are able
to speak their minds. Many of them are also classified
appointments; this means they are not declared to the public."
Mr Wong noted that what is "more important is to provide the
Committee with unrestricted access for it to conduct a rigorous,
thorough and comprehensive inquiry. Conducting the inquiry in
closed chambers provides for and ensures this. It is not an
exercise at grand—standing or playing to the gallery".
"This does not mean that the public will not be kept informed of
the inquiry and its findings. I have already said that when the COI
completes its inquiry, we will give a full account on how Mas
Selamat escaped and what has been done to prevent another escape,"
he said.
The deputy prime minister also added that there is no reason to
doubt the independence of the Committee as the members are not
about to put their own considerable achievements and good
reputations at risk.
Mr Wong later gave an update on the CID’s investigation as well,
saying it is in the final stages. Its investigation includes
interviews with several dozen witnesses and forensic examination of
the escape scene.
The report will be submitted to the Attorney—General’s Chambers,
which will decide on appropriate follow—up actions. — CNA/so
