Mas Selamat’s son detained for two years

SINGAPORE — The son of Singapore Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Mas Selamat Kastari has been detained on a two-year Order of Detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for his involvement in the organisation.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said today (Jan 9) that Masyhadi Mas Selamat, 25, was placed under detention on Nov 21 last year. He was arrested in Indonesia on Oct 20 and deported to Singapore later that month.

Masyhadi was schooled in JI religious schools in Indonesia from age 13 and underwent paramilitary training there when he was older. He formally became a member of the JI terrorist organisation when he turned 21. Among other things, he conducted JI surveillance activities and disseminated radical propaganda online in support of jihadist violence.

Another two Singaporeans, Zakaria Rosdan, 23, and Muhammad Khairul Sofri Osman, 29, were placed on Restriction Orders (RO) under the ISA for two years from Dec 2013.

According to the MHA, Zakaria and Khairul were radicalised after looking up and viewing radical online videos and websites and “were inspired to undertake violent jihad in places of conflict like Syria”.

Zakaria had tried to establish contact with a number of foreign militant entities online in an attempt to join them and get to the conflict zones, while Khairul had encouraged Zakaria, abetting him in his plans.

Meanwhile, Mohd Azmi Ali was released from detention and issued with a RO on Dec 15 last year. Azmi was a JI member and was detained under the ISA in Dec 2009. The MHA said he has been “cooperative in investigations and has been responsive to rehabilitation, including religious counselling” and that he “no longer posed a security threat”.

In addition, the ROs against six JI members were allowed to lapse between Dec 2013 and Jan 2014. The six are Mohamad Anuar Margono, Ja’afar Mistooki, Mohamed Ellias Mohamed Khan, Hashim Abas, Mohamed Nazir Mohmmed Uthman and Hosnay Awi. The MHA said they were cooperative and responsive to rehabilitation efforts.

Mas Selamat was arrested in Indonesia in 2006 and extradited to Singapore. He escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre in February 2008, sparking a massive manhunt, and was caught in Johor in April 2009. Now in custody under the ISA, he had allegedly plotted to hijack a plane and crash it into Changi Airport.