(Wednesday, November 24, 2010 / 3:40 PM)
Title: Relatives of Mas Selamat jailed for harbouring him
SINGAPORE - THREE relatives of Mas Selamat Kastari have been jailed for habouring the terrorist leader during his escape from Singapore to Malaysia in late February 2008.
His brother, sister-in-law and niece were sentenced to 12 months, three months and 18 months jail respectively. The three have pleaded guilty to the charges harbouring a prisoner of State and were convicted and sentenced on Nov 18.
Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam revealed in a ministerial statement in Parliament on Monday how the leader of the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) escaped with the help of family members.
Mas Selamat Kastari disguised himself as a woman to escape the dragnet cast to prevent him bolting from Singapore - two days after his escape from Whitley Road Detention Centre in February 2008.
After staying overnight at his brother Asmom's flat in Tampines on Feb 29, 2008, Mas Selamat disguised himself as a woman with the help of his niece, Nui Aini bte Asmom, who helped apply make-up on him and secured a tudung for him.
Nui Aini bte Asmom also gave Mas Selamat several items, including clothes, a baseball cap, water, a snack, an illumination stick, air-tight resealable plastic bags to pack the items and a backpack to store all the items. When Mas Selamat asked for a map of Singapore, his niece also gave him a copy.
The flat in Tampines was jointly owned by Mas Selamat's brother, Asmom and his wife Aisah. The couple allowed Mas Selamat to stay in the flat despite knowing that he was the subject of a manhunt.
Before Mas Selamat left the flat, Asmom also gave his brother some traditional medicine, as well as S$100 and RM100 to facilitate his escape from Singapore to Malaysia.
Mas Selamat was caught in Johor on April 1 last year and held in a Malaysian prison until he was handed over to Singapore on Sept 24 this year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------HAFIZAH:...Around two years ago, Singaporeans were terrified when they got to know the most wanted criminal in Singapore,Mas Selamat, disappeared suddenly soon after a few days he was caught. Most of us would say, "why were the policemen so careless that Mas Selamat could escaped easily?!". Then there was a big search for Mas Selamat all around Singapore that includes the forests, when actually for the first few days, he was at his relatives house hiding.
...When I saw the news few days back about Mas Selamat's secret hiding place, I find it so ridiculous. All this while, his relatives were the ones helping him. I guess, family is always the first priority in everyone's life. Most of us will be wondering "why on earth would his relatives help him when they already know he is an escaped-criminal?". But imagine if you are in his relatives's shoes, you would want to do the same thing. You know that you are not supposed to help any criminals even though he/she is your closest family members but if you do not help, you will feel very guilty.
...In conclusion, we all know family is important and always have to be the first priority in our life but we always have to remember that we have to do what is right. For example, it is good to help someone when they are in financial problems like unable to pay up school fees. But helping them to hide from the police after doing some crimes, it is totally wrong! If one day you happened to face the same situation, my advice to you is not to open the door at all and stay quiet because once you open the door, you will tend to have a face-to-face conversation and then will see some changes on their face expression asking some sympathy from you. That is when you will start feeling sorry towards them and in the end no choice but to help. So, we have to remember that do not trust anyone so easily. Never to give 100% trust to anyone because you will never know what will happen next.
RICHGINIA:...I was surprise after reading the article. For the past two years, everyone in Singapore was wondering how Mas Selamat Kastari got to Malaysia without being detected by the police. This remains a mystery until recently; three relatives of Mas Selamat Kastari was sentence to jail. They have been jailed for harbouring the terrorist leader during his escape from Singapore to Malaysia in late February 2008.
...Their actions are partly understandable by putting yourself in their shoes. Would you want your relative to go jailed for a serious offence? I think most of us will not report them to police, as we are still a family.
...At the point of time everyone were blaming the police for neglecting the security of the terrorist leader. Everyone was living in fear that the terrorist may launch another attack in Singapore since their leader has escape.
...Hence, I feel that what the three relative of Mas Selamat Kastari has done was unforgivable. They had helped a terrorist who was a threat to our nation security to escape, leaving many people in fear. Have they thought of the consequences? For example, Mas Selamat Kastari might launch another terrorist attack in Singapore, their friends and partners in Singapore might die in the attack.
...In conclusion, I feel that we should not let our personal feeling affect our value of judgement. Do what is right for the society rather than protect the wrong and cause fear in others.
ALLYSON:...After reading this article, I feel very upset with the three family members which helped Mas Selamat escape. Although he is part of their family, he is still a wanted man by the police and they should tell on him. Just because he is related to them, does not mean that they should protect him. He may not be dangerous to them but he is still a threat to the public and should be captured. If his family members really care for Singapore and the world, they would give him up to the police no matter how close they are.
...I am sure that they knew that if they got caught, they would be jailed. I suppose they would rather help Mas Selamat escape than giving him up to the police and making this world a safer place to live in. If I were in their position, I would hand him over to the police to protect the society as we can’t just think of ourselves but others too. We must be considerate and not be selfish. They should also try to change his perspective of life and provide him with a better mindset instead of accepting his bad behavior and helping him out.
LEONARD:...After reading this article, I am amazed at what the three relatives of Mas Selamat Kastari did to help him escaped. Now Mas Selamat had caused his own brother and his family in deep trouble. His brother, sister-in-law and niece were sentenced to 12 months, three months and 18 months jail respectively.
...In my opinion, 18 months is too light a sentence. What they did was simply a brainless act. This is harbouring a terrorist, not an ordinary criminal. Imagine if Mas Selamat escapes, he will plan on how to attack Singapore and innocent people will be injured or killed.
...But one question that came across my mind was “Why didn’t the police grill Mas Selamat’s family members about his whereabouts?” The police should have check Mas Selamat’s brother’s apartment every once in a while and even taped phone messages at home, mobile phones to check if they make any contact with the wanted man.
...So to conclude, blood is thicker than water. Family members are the one to turn to when you are in need of help so treasure every single one of them.
TECK JIE:...It is naturally for human beings to help their love ones but if in order for them to do something that harm the society and against the law, they should not help their family members nor their friends to do something that may harm others life.
...Instead of helping their family members or friends to get away from justice, they should turn their family members or friends in. This may seems that you are betraying him, but in fact you are helping him in another way.
...You may be wondering why I said that you are helping him by turning him, because by turning him in, u prevented him from making more mistakes by killing the innocent, hence his punishment would not be heavy.
...In conclusion, if you want to help your family members or relatives, you need to weigh the pros and cons of helping your family members of relative. We must not be selfish as to let our family members or friends to harm others.
