SINGAPORE: Mas Selamat Kastari, the leader of the
Singapore arm of terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, had help after his
escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre (WRDC) on 27
February, 2008.
He was harboured by four family members before
escaping to Malaysia, revealed Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam in
a Ministerial Statement in Parliament on Monday.
Three family members have since been convicted in
court and jailed. The fourth was left off with a stern
warning.
Mas Selamat had made his way to his brother Asmom's
home in Tampines, a busy neighbourhood in the eastern part of
Singapore, two days after the escape.
He was greeted by his 25-year-old niece Nur Aini Asmom, who then
persuaded her mother Aisah to allow Mas Selamat into their
flat.
Mas Selamat subsequently stayed one night at his brother's
home.
The JI fugitive remained elusive until May 2009 when it surfaced
that he'd been detained by Malaysia authorities.
It was revealed then that Mas Selamat had been hiding in a small
village in Johor Bahru.
He was finally handed back to Singapore authorities on September
24, 2010.
Authorities found out about his family's involvement in his escape
about a month later, in October.
For harbouring the terrorist after his escape, Mas Selamat's
brother, the brother's wife and their daughter, have been jailed
between three and 18 months.
Nur Aini, who was a Malay language teacher, was sentenced to 18
months' jail.
His brother, Asmom, was given 12 months while his sister-in-law
Aisah, three months' jail.
The three were arrested and charged on November 10. They were
convicted of the charge and sentenced on November 18.
Mas Selamat's nephew Mahadir, who had a lesser role in the matter,
has been served a stern warning in lieu of prosecution.
Mr Shanmugam said Mas Selamat had wanted to seek shelter and help
from Nur Aini, thinking that his niece was living alone.
The Minister added that Nur Aini persuaded her mother to allow Mas
Selamat to enter the flat.
She gave him use of her bedroom, provided him food and water, and
also assisted him by destroying the clothing he wore to the flat,
which included his WRDC-issued attire.
The next day, Nur Aini applied make-up on Mas Selamat and secured a
tudung -- or headscarf -- over his head to disguise him as a
woman.
She also gave him several items, including more clothing, snacks,
an illumination light stick and a map of Singapore that showed part
of Malaysia.
Early that morning, Mas Selamat's 58-year-old brother returned home
from work. He knew it was wrong to harbour Mas Selamat, but decided
to let him stay anyway.
Before his brother left the flat, Asmom gave him S$100 and RM100 to
facilitate his escape from Singapore to Malaysia.
Asmom's 58-year-old wife Aisah gave Mas Selamat an EZ-link card and
hair-net which he wore as part of his disguise, and some
paracetamol.
There was also Mas Selamat's nephew Mahadir, who had come home on
29 February night and discovered his uncle at home.
Authorities said 29-year-old Mahadir did not render specific help,
and was not in the flat much.
However, he did not report the matter to the authorities.
Mr Shanmugam said the independent accounts on what took place in
the Asmom home are consistent.
But Mas Selamat's own account of how he then made his way to
Malaysia is still unverified.
Mr Shanmugam said the three had knowingly harboured Mas Selamat, an
escaped prisoner of the State, who they knew was the subject of a
massive manhunt.
They deliberately withheld information when they were interviewed
by the authorities on March 3, 2008.
It was only in October this year, after being confronted with the
facts, that they admitted to what had happened.
Mr Shanmugam said Asmom and his family's decision to harbour Mas
Selamat and provide him with material support that enabled him to
escape to Malaysia was very wrong, illegal, and had grave security
implications.
That's because Mas Selamat could then resume his terrorist
activities as well as plans to attack Singapore.
Mr Shanmugam said Singaporeans will be understandably disappointed
that Asmom and his family had helped Mas Selamat in his
escape.
But he added that their actions are not a reflection on the wider
Malay-Muslim community who had disapproved of Mas Selamat's deeds,
and participated in the manhunt for him in 2008.
Mr Shanmugam said Singaporeans should not allow this episode to
affect the trust and goodwill that has been built up over the years
between the different communities.
Instead, he said this should reinforce how important it is for
every Singaporean to unite and assist the security agencies to
overcome the threat of terrorism.
As to how Mas Selamat made his way to his brother's flat and how he
subsequently made his way to Malaysia, Mr Shanmugam said the
account given by Mas Selamat is still subject to
verification.
Read the full text of the Ministerial
Statement
here
-CNA/wk/fa
