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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Police say JI fugitive Mas Selamat still in Singapore [/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="44">[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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02 March 2008 1054 hrs (SST) [/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="44">[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/332307/1/.html [/FONT]</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
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SINGAPORE: Singapore authorities said they strongly believe the wanted Jemaah Islamiyah leader Mas Selamat Kastari is still in the country.
They said that's because he escaped unaided and has no money, food or transport to leave Singapore.
Mas Selamat escaped on Wednesday evening from Whitley Road Detention Centre, where he's been held under the Internal Security Act.
The fugitive fled while on a visit to the toilet.
The 47-year-old is alleged to have been the mastermind of a plot to crash a hijacked plane into Changi Airport.
Authorities said Mas Selamat is believed to be in hiding and operating on his own since his escape.
Also, with no essential items like clothes and money, they added that he's likely to steal them to survive.
Singaporeans have been urged to make police reports if they have had items stolen, such as clothes, their car or bicycle.
Police also clarified that Mas Selamat walks with a limp on his left leg, but that is only noticeable when he's running or walking quickly and not when he's strolling normally.
Police said Mas Selamat may also have changed his appearance by wearing a cap or sunglasses, and could also have found a weapon like a knife.
So authorities are not letting up on the manhunt.
Deputy Prime Minister, Wong Kan Seng, said: "There is no evidence so far that he has left Singapore. Therefore, our current efforts and top priority is to look for him. We will continue the search until we find him."
Extensive land, sea and air searches involving more than 1,000 policemen, soldiers and Special Operation Command forces are ongoing and authorities said they'll search every forested area in Singapore as well as the urban environment like unoccupied buildings and buildings that are under construction.
Searches have been conducted in areas like West Coast Park, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Whitley Road surroundings.
Aside from tightened security at various authorised checkpoints like at Woodlands and Tuas, security's also been stepped up at locations like Sungei Buloh and the forested Northern coastline.
At least one search was conducted at the Upper Pierce Reservoir in Central Singapore on Sunday with Special Operations officers using sniffer dogs.
It's a challenging process, but morale remains high.
Sudarto Sulaiman, Senior Station Inspector, Special Operations Command, said: “The long hours and uncertainties of going to places we don't know of - it can pose dangers to us but I think with our training it helps us a lot.
"(For) night searches, we don't know what's ahead and the vision is not clear but day search is better. But besides the search and giving pamphlets, we warn residents of (the) danger they are facing."
The authorities are enlisting the public's help with some 54,000 posters and flyers already distributed.
Grassroots and schools have also volunteered to hand out the flyers as well.
So far, police have received more than 300 calls with information and feedback.
An independent three-member Committee of Inquiry has also been set up to find out how Mas Selamat managed to escape.
The committee comprises retired judge Goh Joon Seng, former Commisioner of Police Tee Tua Ba, and Deputy Secretary in the Home Affairs Ministry Choong May Ling.
The committee's report is expected in a month. -CNA/vm
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