Man Accused of Leading Terrorist Group (behind Bali bombings) Is Seized

Source: Reuters

Published: May 8, 2009

SINGAPORE (Reuters) — A man suspected of leading a radical Islamist group linked to the 2002 Bali bombings has been arrested in Malaysia, more than a year after his escape from a high-security prison in Singapore, a newspaper, The Straits Times, reported on Friday.

The suspect, Mas Selamat Kastari, was captured on April 1 and is being held in Malaysia for questioning, the newspaper said.

Mr. Mas Selamat has been accused of being the mastermind of a plot to hijack an airplane and crash it into Changi Airport in Singapore. The authorities have also accused him of planning truck bomb attacks at several sites across the island of Singapore, including at the American Club and the United States Embassy.

A Singapore government spokeswoman confirmed the arrest but provided no details.

Officials said Mr. Mas Selamat was a leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, a radical Islamic group linked to Al Qaeda and responsible for several attacks across Southeast Asia, including the Bali bombings.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/world/asia/08bali.html?ref=world

---

Finally they've got the mass murdering piece of shit!

Arrest a blow to JI

Source: Strait Times

SECURITY experts applauded the arrest of Singapore's most wanted terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari in Malaysia, saying it is a 'very significant blow' to the militant Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terror network.
The fugitive militant was captured on April 1 while hiding in Johor, after more than a year after he bolted from the Whitley Road Detention Centre on Feb 27 last year.

Sources told The Straits Times that the 48-year-old was tracked down based on intelligence provided by Singapore's Internal Security Department (ISD), and a joint operation by Malaysia and Singapore's security agencies.

The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed the arrest in a statement on Friday morning, but gave no other details.

Dr John Harrison, a security analyst at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), commenting on the Mas Selamat's arrest, told AFP: 'He is an extremely skilled and dangerous terrorist and the fact that he has been recaptured improves the security situation in Singapore and the region.'

Read more: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_374011.html

Why public not told earlier

Source: Strait Times

THE Singapore government did not inform the public earlier of the capture of wanted terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari because of the need for secrecy, said Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng on Friday.

It may also compromise operations and jeopardise the sources of information, said Mr Wong, who is also Home Affairs Minister.

He said the same applied to other terrorist arrests earlier.

The leader of the Singapore Jemaah Islamiah terror network, who has been on the run for a year after bolting from the Whitley Detention Centre on Feb 27 last year, was nabbed in the outskirts of Johor Baru six weeks ago on April 1 and is now being held by the Malaysian authorities under its Internal Security Act for interrogation.

Many Singaporeans were surprised and elated over news of his arrest, which was splashed on the front page of The Straits Times on Friday. But many also questioned why his capture was not made public earlier. Some even quipped that the arrest might have been a belated April Fool's joke.

Read more: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_374034.html


How his escape was reported last year...

Terror Suspect Eludes Posse of 4 Million

Source: NYT

By SETH MYDANS
Published: March 14, 2008

SINGAPORE — The big mistake, officials here say, was letting the terrorist suspect make a trip to the bathroom.

Mas Selamat bin Kastari, alleged by the government to be the leader of a terrorist group here, escaped from a high-security prison two weeks ago while taking a bathroom break, in a major embarrassment for this efficient, tightly battened city-state.

In a furious response, the government put the entire country on alert, setting up checkpoints, sealing its borders, patrolling its parks and its shores, even urging people to keep an eye on their bicycles in case the wanted man decided to pedal to freedom.

With each new empty-handed day the embarrassment deepens as Singapore confronts its Tora Bora moment, its most-wanted terrorist suspect melting into the urban terrain, as Osama bin Laden evaded American troops in Afghanistan.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/14/world/asia/14singapore.html?_r=1

Singapore is an autocracy run by the Lee family.