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SINGAPORE: The Home Affairs Ministry has accepted a S$1m reward offer by two individuals for information leading to Mas Selamat Kastari's capture after it found the persons and proposal to be serious and credible.
The ministry released its statement following Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng's announcement of the reward in Parliament.
The two individuals are businessmen. The ministry said both men, who asked to remain anonymous, have various business interests in this region.
One of them, who is in his 40s, said he was motivated to offer the reward because Singapore has been good to him and his family. He also said he has lived in many places, but there is no place safer for his family than Singapore.
He said he offered the reward because it is clear the authorities are not making much headway after five months of manhunt. He hopes his cash reward will generate the breakthrough they need to nab Mas Selamat.
The other businessman, who is in his 50s, said he thought the reward is a good idea as the S$1 million is an eye-catcher. He hopes some people will respond to it and give information leading to the capture of Mas Selamat. He had come forward after hearing from a friend about the reward proposal.
Members of the public with information on Mas Selamat can call the Counter Terrorism Centre hotline at 1800-262-6473 or +65-6262-6473 or the Police at 999.
The ministry stressed that all information received will be kept confidential and will be verified and investigated.
Analysts said the S$1m reward is not only timely, but that such cash rewards are usually effective when it comes to capturing international fugitives and terrorists like 9-11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
Dr Rohan Gunaratna, an expert on terrorism at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said: "The man (Khalid Sheikh Mohammed) who committed the world's worst terrorist attack... information leading to his arrest in Pakistan in 2003 was a direct result of reward money.
"Similarly, Ramzi Ahmed Yuosef, the terrorist who planned to bomb 12 planes in the Pacific (in the Oplan Bojinka plot), he was identified because of reward money."
Other terrorism experts said the reward will most likely erode Mas Selamat's comfort level and make him more vulnerable.
Dr John Harrison, Assistant Professor at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said: "(There will be) more individuals looking for him, because there's a great reward... for him.
"This may force him into making a mistake, either a bad decision or no decision at a critical time, which could ultimately lead to his capture."
- CNA/ir
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