Malaysia to deport Singaporean terrorist suspect

Malaysia will deport a Singaporean terrorist suspect on Friday who spent nearly 18 months in detention after authorities tracked him down following his escape from a high-security prison in the city-state.

Mas Selamat Kastari, who is of Indonesian origin and in his late 40s, was the suspected commander of the Singapore arm of the al-Qaida-linked Jamaah Islamiyah militant group. He is accused of plotting to hijack a plane and crash it into Singapore's international airport. Jamaah Islamiyah is accused of carrying out the 2002 bombings in Bali, Indonesia, that killed 202 people.

After a year on the run, he was captured in Malaysia in April 2009 and was detained under the Internal Security Act that allows indefinite imprisonment without trial.

He has been released and will be deported to Singapore later Friday, a Home Ministry official said on condition of anonymity. The official, who said he was not authorized to release the information to the media, declined to give details.

At the time of his escape, Mas Selamat was being held in a high-security jail in Singapore under the Internal Security Act, which is similar to Malaysia's security law.

He escaped on Feb. 27, 2008, by wriggling out a bathroom window in a shocking breach that severely embarrassed the city-state known for its rigorous security. His ability to remain in hiding for more than a year underscored that terrorist networks in the region remain strong.

The search for Mas Selamat initially focused on Singapore and neighboring Indonesia, where it was thought the local branch of Jamaah Islamiyah would easily provide shelter for him. But he was arrested on the outskirts of Johor Baru, the capital of the southern state of Johor state, which is separated from Singapore by a narrow strip of sea.

A father of four, Mas Selamat escaped when he was taken from his cell to a room where he was waiting for a visit from his family. He disappeared after being granted permission go to the bathroom, authorities said.

Such security breaches are virtually unheard of in tightly policed Singapore, an island nation of 4 million people.

Mas Selamat fled Singapore in December 2001 following a crackdown on Jemaah Islamiyah. He was arrested by the Indonesian police on Bintan island in January 2006 and handed over to Singapore authorities.