JI TERRORIST MAS SELAMAT USED FLOAT TO ESCAPE

SINGAPORE, May 8 (Bernama) - Mas Selamat Kastari, the suspected leader of
the Jemaah Islamiah militant group had used an improvised flotation device to
escape from the north shore of Singapore to Johor Baharu.

Singapore Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng said this happened after his
escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre on Feb 27 last year where he was
being held under the Internal Security Act.

Wong said this here today as his ministry confirmed the arrest of Mas
Selamat, saying the terrorist had been arrested by the Malaysian Special Branch
police on April 1.

Wong, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said Singapore was happy that
Mas Selamat had been arrested, adding that the Malaysian police had done an
excellent work.

Mas Selamat would be brought back to Singapore and sent to the same
detention centre again, which had its security features upgraded, after the
Malaysian completed their interrogation, he added.

Wong said Mas Selamat's arrest came after the Malaysian authorities were
tipped-off about his whereabouts late last year, and the Singapore government
was informed of the arrest soon after it occurred.

Mas Selamat was said to be the alleged mastermind of a plot to hijack a
plane and crash it into Singapore's Changi Airport.

-- BERNAMA