ASSOCIATED PRESS, Thursday May 30, 2002
Singapore Govt: Islamic Radicals Likely Fled To Indonesia
SINGAPORE, May 30 (AP)--About a dozen members of an Islamic radical group that
allegedly plotted to bomb Western targets here have likely fled to Indonesia and
elsewhere in the region, a government agency said Thursday.
Five members considered to be "the most dangerous elements" of the Jemaah
Islamiyah group are believed to be in Indonesia, Singapore's Home Affairs Ministry
said in a news release.
About 12 members of Jemaah Islamiyah - which has been linked to Osama bin
Laden's al-Qaida terror network - fled Singapore during a roundup late last year of
group of members accused of plotting to blow up the U.S. Embassy and other targets
in Singapore, the release said.
The five-member group said to be in Indonesia is led by Mas Selamat Kastari, whom
Singapore has also accused of plotting to ram a plane into the city state's airport.
The release didn't say in which countries the rest of the dozen radicals might be.
Earlier allegations from Singaporean officials that suspected terrorists have found a
safe haven in Indonesia have caused diplomatic dustups between the two countries.
Thirteen members of Jemaah Islamiyah accused in connection with the bomb plots
are being held in Singapore under its tough Internal Security Act.
The release said that Singapore's President S.R. Nathan has upheld the initial
two-year period of detention of the 13 suspects after a review panel heard their cases.
Their cases will be reviewed in one year, it said.
The review panel has no power to convict or exonerate but if it thinks the men are
innocent, it can recommend that the president pardon them.
Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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