Mas Selamat...relatives, family members jailed! I was spot on again in my analysis!

Mas Selamat's relatives aided escape

Posted: 22 November 2010 1510 hrs
Channelnews asia

[Photo: CNA news online ]

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Manhunt Underway


SINGAPORE:

Mas Selamat's brother, the brother's wife and their daughter, have been jailed between three and 18 months for harbouring the terrorist after his escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre in 2008.His niece, Nur Aini. was sentenced to 18 months in jail.His brother, Asmom was given 12 months while his sister-in-law Aisah, three months' jail.

The three were arrested and charged last Wednesday, 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.These details were revealed in a Ministerial statement in Parliament by Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam.

He said Mas Selamat made his way to his brother's home in Tampines on February 29, 2008, two days after he escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre (WRDC).He wanted to seek shelter and help from his niece, Nur Aini.Mr Shanmugam said Mas Selamat thought that Nur Aini 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.

Nur Aini helped Mas Selamat disguise himself as a woman to evade detection and recapture.She also gave him several items, including a map of Singapore that showed part of Malaysia.Asmom gave him S$100 and RM100 to facilitate his escape from Singapore to Malaysia.Asmom's wife Aisah gave Mas Selamat an EZ-link card and hair-net which he wore as part of his disguise, and some paracetamol.

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.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.

-CNA/wk

Unk Dicko's Comments:

I have been proven absolutely correct again. Readers should check out all my earlier blog postings from the time of Mas Selamat's escape, the big manhunt for him and his subsequent recapture.

My analysis of the situation, including the FACT THAT HE WAS STILL BEING HARBOURED IN SINGAPORE, was made in the days and week following his escape.

If only the police and the ISD could have obtained the proper search warrants and if only they could have been a little smarter than his relatives and family members...they would have solved this much earlier and avoided much public embarassment.

After Mas Selamat was brought back he recounted how he escaped by crawling all the way through those linked drains and culverts to Woodlands. He then embellished it by saying he swam across...ALONE. This is to say he "had no help from anyone inside S'pore ".

I asked our authorities not to fall for this " bullshit and hogwash" of a story.

He had outside help. PERIOD!

I rest my case.

Shocking Revealations at Manila Inquiry !

Manila police fired 20 rounds in ill-fated bus
By Timothy Chui (China Daily HK Edition)

Updated: 2010-09-03, 09:23
Manila police fired 20 rounds in ill-fated bus.

Hong Kong, bus hostage, the philippines,

Lead HK investigator into hostage killings questioned on exit from Manila

Hong Kong investigators probing the aftermath of the August 23 Manila hostage crises inspects the ill-fated Hong Thai Tours bus in Taguig, the Philippines, Aug 30, 2010.

[Photo/Xinhua]

Investigators probing the aftermath of the August 23 Manila hostage crises have found evidence that 20 rounds were fired into the Hong Thai Tours bus by police.
Eight Hong Kong residents died during the hostage taking by Rolando Mendoza, a 55-year-old ex-cop dismissed for corruption.
The information concerning evidence of police bullets came out despite a gag order surrounding the inquiry.
Documents obtained by Filipino broadcaster ABS-CBN News disclose that police bullets hit the vehicle's windshield, driver's side window, tyres and a window near the door well.
Bullet holes linked to the line of fire of the SWAT team were also found in windows near to where some of the passengers were seated, according to the report.
Filipino authorities expect to wrap up the gathering of evidence next week.
Hong Kong Police are working in tandem with Filipino investigators who may also fly to Hong Kong to take statements from two survivors, to assist in mounting a re-enactment of the tragedy next Monday, said Filipino Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

Related readings:

LegCo holds debate on Manila hostage carnage

Memorial service for HK victims in the Philippines

Hong Kong stages rally to mourn for hostage victims

HK, Philippines to exchange hostage probe info

Without naming the two hostages, she added the trip may be cancelled if statements taken by Hong Kong police are provided and there are no conflicts.
Following the probe, a high-level delegation will take the investigations' findings to Beijing and then to Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, two Hong Kong police officers conducting investigations in Manila were questioned briefly by Filipino authorities Thursday.
Interpol Division Chief Inspector Li Kwai-wah was denied clearance to board a flight from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Hong Kong Thursday morning. He was stopped because he was carrying a bag of empty shell casings from the gunman's assault rifle, Chinese Embassy in the Philippines spokesman Sun Yi said.

Interpol Division Chief Inspector Li Kwai-wah is escorted by aviation security to a waiting vehicle after he was held at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila September 2, 2010 for carrying a bag of empty shell casings from the gunman's assault rifle.

[Photo/Agencies]

Li had not declared the casings nor did he have the required clearance from the Philippine National Police. Li was allowed to fly out after questioning, the spokesman said.
Public anger has been simmering over the handling and aftermath of the August 23 hostage crisis during which 22 Hong Kong residents were held hostage on a busy Manila thoroughfare.
Mendoza murdered eight of the hostages before he was killed by police at the end of a bungled two-hour-long rescue attempt.

The Filipino government says it's looking into the latest in a series of blunders. The bodies of three of those killed in the incident were sent to the wrong families in Hong Kong.
Philippines Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman apologized for the mix up.
The mistakes were discovered when the victims' coffins were taken to the Kwai Chung Mortuary after being flown in from Manila, according to the Security Bureau.
The bodies were identified by family members in Manila so the mislabeling may have been done by Filipino mortuary workers, a statement read.

Unk Dicko's Comment:

Everything I have seen so far from various news reports, including some of the latest inside

reports from Manila available online, suggests that the Philippines is only giving nominal co-operation and access to the Hong Kong GOVERNMENT appointed investigation team.

They, the Filipinos are not using their heads again.

THIS MAY YET TURN OUT TO BE ANOTHER BIGGER DISASTER THAN THEY CAN

IMAGINE.

Long ago we have learnt from wise men,

" When you have already done WRONG and have been found out, do not go on to commit another WRONG in the hope of hiding that first MISTAKE. "

And may I humbly add...NEVER AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL !

The so-called Official Inquiry by Manila have definitely confirmed my earliest assessments about the debacle and shameful fiasco.

The MAIN PROBLEM IS TOTAL LACK / ABSENCE OF QUALITY LEADERS with Integrity and Intelligence.

If you read and follow the various reports, you will be shocked at the unimaginable circus of CHIEFS of police, of this committee, that committee, at this level, at that level.... even an ordinary person like me be so disgusted with the idiocy of it all.

I can imagine myself having a BIG headache just to sit through and listen to all the "nonsense"

and explanations coming from their "big" chiefs.

You need 10 bottles of Panadol on standby to clear your head!

While the crisis was at its height...the REAL KEY CHIEFS Ministers, Police etc.....all "Chabuted" literally! ( local slang for abscond, run, hide, ). Army slang will say " take cover".

One ordered a govt plane to fly him south to "attend an event". ! ?

Another went to have coffee in a hotel..." and watch the action on TV" ! ?

Another went to have tea...

And another went.....

Whatever it was, it is most disgusting, shameful, irresponsible behaviour and they all should be charged for deriliction of duty and if found guilty...SACKED.

Innocent lives lost, billions of dollars will be lost in future tourism earnings, National shame,

a pariah police force image...all this and more.

If the exact same thing had happened in Sg ( behaviour wise ), I would not need to write a single

word at all.

I know what the inescapable outcome will be.