Channel NewsAsia - 2 hours 53 minutes
ago
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
Everybody except Minister himself will be punished! How ridiculous!
How come he can't behave like a 1st world leader and take
responsibilty?
