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Source:
www.mha.gov.sg
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Comments by Deputy Prime Minister and Home
Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng on 16 March 2008 |
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Update - Committee of Inquiry |
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The Committee of Inquiry started its
formal proceedings a week ago at the Whitley Road Detention
Centre (WRDC). The Committee is given full and unfettered access
to all documents, personnel, whether on open or classified
appointments, as well as unrestricted inspection of the Whitley
Road Detention Centre. |
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Whether it is a Committee of Inquiry
appointed by the Minister or a Commission of Inquiry appointed by the
President on the advice of Cabinet, the objective remains the same - get
to the bottom of things fully and comprehensively. |
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However in the case of an incident at a
sensitive installation like WRDC, such an inquiry will not be held in
public regardless of whether it is conducted under the ambit of a
Committee or a Commission of Inquiry. |
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This is because the nature of the inquiry
requires a thorough examination of the WRDC, including its detention,
security, investigation and intelligence gathering functions as these
are inter-related. |
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Exposing these details in public will
compromise the confidentiality which is necessary for ISD’s
security and intelligence operations to remain as effective as
they have been. The WRDC is a purpose-built facility holding
detainees under preventive detention. Its focus is on intelligence
collection in relation to an on-going investigation pertinent to
national security. It is not simply a prison to incarcerate
persons to discharge a judicial punishment on conviction of an
offence. |
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To have some parts of the Inquiry open
to public and some parts closed is an unsatisfactory arrangement to
all, not mentioning how disruptive it is to the work of the
Committee. The object must be to discover what happened and to see
how to ensure it does not happen again. |
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Therefore, what is acutely more important is
to provide the Committee with unrestricted access for it to conduct a
rigorous, thorough and comprehensive inquiry. Conducting the inquiry in
closed chambers provides for and ensures this. It is not an exercise at
grandstanding or playing to the gallery. |
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This does not mean that the public will not
be kept informed of the inquiry and its findings. I have already said
that when the COI completes its inquiry, we will give a full account on
how Mas Selamat escaped and what has been done to prevent another
escape. |
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I gather that the Committee has been working
long hours examining many witnesses from the lowest to the highest rank;
in fact it is working over the weekend. While I hope that it would
complete its work early, really this must be the Chairman’s call – he
and his members will decide when they are satisfied they have completed
a full and in-depth inquiry. |
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There are no grounds to doubt the
impartiality or independence of the Committee. |
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Mr Goh Joon Seng has an impeccable standing
as retired High Court Judge and member of the Presidential Council of
Advisors. |
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Mr Tee Tua Ba has retired from the
Singapore Police Force in July 1997 and he has served as
Singapore’s ambassador to various countries in the last eleven
years. |
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Dr Choong May Ling is a senior
Administrative Officer who has served in various Ministries. In
her current job in MHA, she oversees security policy; she does not
have any line relationship over ISD or any operational
departments. |
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These are persons whose collective
experience and background allow them to understand the nature of
legal, operational, policy and security issues. They are also
persons who are not about to put their own considerable
achievements and good reputations at risk to do other than a
thorough and impartial job at seeking the truth. |
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Update - CID Investigation |
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The CID investigation started from the
time of the incident was reported. Their job is to see if whether
there is any criminal wrong-doing for example, abetment or
collusion or conspiracy which led to Mas Selamat’s escape. |
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I understand that CID is at the final
stages of its investigation which has included interviews of
several dozen witnesses and forensic examination of the primary
scene where the escape occurred. When they complete their
investigation, they will refer it to the AGC. The AGC will then
decide on the appropriate follow-up actions. |
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Update - On Search Operations |
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I am kept apprised of developments
every day. Our officers continue to be focussed and determined.
They have a strategy and remain positive. |
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They follow all leads, no matter how
small. I understand that they have intelligence analysis of the
man which may be pertinent to their current search on the ground. |
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We must keep the pressure on Mas
Selamat. |
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Source:
www.mha.gov.sg Press Release
16 Mar 2008 |
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FrontPage Edition: Sun 16 March 2008
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