Search for fugitive Mas Selemat: How the public can help the police
A worker of an Esso car-wash kiosk points out where his manager saw a man entering the wooded park leading to Bukit Brown Chinese cemetery off Sime Road. -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN
FUGITIVE terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari is not known to have escaped with the help of any accomplices, said police on Sunday.
While on the run, he may resort to stealing food and money, and is likely to attempt to conceal his identity.
Police also believe that the leader of the Jemaah Islamiah terror network here is likely to move about under the cover of night.
If you have information to share with the police, call 999 or email spf_police_information@spf.gov.sg. Your identity will be kept strictly confidential, police have assured.
Call 999 if you see any of these suspicious behavior or activities:
What to look out for
Mas Selamat may disguise or conceal his appearance to avoid detection
Other than the photos already released to the media, keep a lookout for these signs:
a) Observable limp on left leg when running or walking briskly
b) Attempts to conceal or disguise appearance, such as wearing of cap, head-dress or dark glasses.
c) Ill-fitting clothes
d) Avoidance of eye contact
Mas Selamat needs food when hiding, and may resort to stealing money and food.
He may also change his appearance by stealing clothes.
He may steal transportation means to keep moving to avoid detection or escape from the country.
Keep a lookout for these incidents:
a) Theft of food
b) Theft of money
c) Theft of clothing, including from foreign workers dormitory or unattended laundry lines
d) Theft of transportation means · Bicycle · Motor-cycle · Motor-car · Boats (Mas Selamat is a trained vehicle mechanic and knows how to operate motorised boats.)
How the public can help the Police
Topic
Key Points
Public continue to call Police if they see anything suspicious
· Police have so far received over 330 calls and emails from members of the public providing information on suspicious sightings, suggestions and encouragement. We follow up on all the information received and take the feedback seriously.
· We appeal to the public to continue to remain vigilant and call 999 immediately upon seeing anyone / anything suspicious.
To Call Or Not To Call?
· Even if the member of the public is unsure of what he/she sees, they should err on the side of caution and still call us. Every second counts. Even if it later turns out to be a false alarm, it is ok.
· These should not be confused with the hoax call we recently publicised. The hoax call was perpetrated by a prankster who posed as Mas Selamat Kastari to issue threats. We will deal with such cases seriously as they are public nuisance and divert Police’s resources away from their critical functions.
· We have disseminated photographs of Mas Selamat Kastari mainly through the media. We have since expanded this to include: a) Posters b) Pamphlets c) Telco MMS d) SingTel will also be sending an email with the JI leader’s photograph and physical details to all their Singnet users.
Community efforts
· Outreach to the community include pamphlets distributed by the grassroots as well as posters distributed by students from schools such as First Toa Payoh. · Many Singaporeans in the past had assisted the authorities to fight terrorism by reporting suspicious-looking items in crowded areas, for example, in an MRT carriage. The public is encouraged to adopt a conscious effort and initiative to help the authorities apprehend Mas Selamat Kastari.
