3 ex-commandos. I wish them all the best. Anyone know the 3 of
them?
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http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,...,1…?
DAYS TO PREPARE FOR $1M ‘MAS HUNT’ *Lured by $1 million reward, 3 S’pore men quit
private sector jobs for Mas Selamat hunt *They’ll live on savings
for a year while infiltrating local communities
ARE these bounty hunters for real?
Their quarry: Escaped terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari, who now has
a $1 million reward on his head.
According to their spokesman, these three Singaporeans have quit
their jobs so they can look for their target in Indonesia.
Why? For a million bucks and perhaps a chance to appear as
heroes.
But the hunt could lead to injury or even death when terrorists
turn into desperados.
And they could get into serious legal problems hunting fugitives
on foreign soil, or even spark a diplomatic row.
For all the risk, they could end up with nothing after months of
frustration.
But this is not stopping the three men, all in their 20s, who
have resigned from their jobs in the private sector this week to
try their luck.
COMMANDO TRAINING
The trio, who had undergone commando training during their
national service, are heading to Indonesia today.
The three men, who have been volunteers with Crime Library since
2005, contacted its founder, Mr Joseph Tan, on Tuesday to seek his
opinion about their plans.
Mr Tan, 42, who is acting as their spokesman and their point of
contact in Singapore, said: ‘They are not my children, but I feel
like a father to them.
‘If I were 20 years younger, I would join them. I may also
become a part-millionaire in the process.’
Mr Tan declined to reveal details about the men for fear of
blowing their cover. They also turned down requests for an
interview.
Anti-terrorist professionals spend many months training before
they carry out big missions, but the trio are off after barely five
days of preparation.
Their aim is to blend into local communities in Indonesia and to
seek leads that might pinpoint the hideout of the Jemaah Islamiah
(JI) leader.
Anti-terror agencies in the region have failed so far to track
down the fugitive after a four-month search.
Yet the bounty hunters believe they stand a chance to strike
paydirt.
The call of a million dollars is strong. The bounty, offered by
two anonymous businessmen, is Singapore’s largest ever.
Mr Tan said their first aim is to try to work out Mas Selamat’s
escape route. One of their theories is that he could have left
Singapore from a fishing port in Jurong.
The men have some savings to tide them over their first year in
Indonesia, Mr Tan said.
They plan to gain the trust of the locals who could help them
get closer to the JI cells there.
But is there a danger they might get indoctrinated as well?
Mr Tan’s reply: ‘I’m not worried that they will get converted,
because terrorists don’t get $1 million as a reward.’
To help the effort, Mr Tan sent out an e-mail with Mas Selamat’s
picture, to alert people in Malaysia, Indonesia and China to be on
the lookout.
Mr Tan has helped solved about 440 missing person cases since he
founded Crime Library in 2001.
The former policeman said: ‘With the $1 million offer, we can
borrow eyes in other countries, turning the people in our network
to become bounty hunters too.’
CREATED A BUZZ
The reward has also created a buzz in the security industry,
including those in neighbouring countries.
Mr Ponno Kalastree, 61, managing director of security and
investigations agency Mainguard International, has mobilised agents
in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines to look out
for Mas Selamat.
He said: ‘The reward will be a real motivation. If they find
him, they can live comfortably for the rest of their lives.’
Dr SM Jegan, a director of Kokusai Security, has offered an
additional $10,000 from his own pocket if his staff members in
Singapore and network in Indonesia are able to give information on
Mas Selamat’s whereabouts.
‘Mas Selamat’s escape has affected our reputation as a safe
country.
’ I am also concerned for the safety of Singaporeans,’ he
said.
Some terrorists have been caught after rewards were offered for
their capture.
9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was captured in Pakistan
in 2003 after a US$25 million ($34m) bounty was offered.
Last year, four Filipinos were paid US$10 million after Abu
Sayyaf leaders Khadaffy Janjalani and Abu Sulaiman were discovered
and killed.
The Indonesian-born Mas Selamat escaped from a detention centre
here in February.
Officials say they have no information to confirm that he has
left Singapore or that he has escaped to Indonesia.
Anyone with information on Mas Selamat may call the Counter
Terrorism Centre hotline at 1800-262 6473 or the police at 999.