> Superintendent of detention centre sacked over Mas Selamat’s escape

SINGAPORE: The superintendent of the Whitley Road Detention Centre has been sacked over security lapses that led to the escape of Jemaah Islamiyah detainee Mas Selamat Kastari. His deputy has also been demoted in rank, with a corresponding pay cut.

The two were the most senior officers in charge of the ground management of the detention centre, and were among six Internal Security Department (ISD) officers charged over the escape.

Two other Gurkha officers were also charged and have been demoted after pleading guilty.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng disclosed the moves when he updated Parliament on the disciplinary action taken after Mas Selamat’s escape.

Mas Selamat had escaped from a ventilation window in a toilet at the detention centre on February 27 and remains at large.

No grilles were mounted on the window. Mr Wong said the superintendent should have instructed the renovation contractor to install grilles on the ventilation window.

Instead, the superintendent asked for the handle of the window to be sawn off in the mistaken belief that it was a sufficient security measure. This, Mr Wong said, was a serious error.

The superintendent and his deputy have also been held accountable for the lack of supervision over the subordinate officers implicated in the escape.

Mr Wong said the ISD’s command director, whom the superintendent reported to, has also been relieved of his duties on April 24.

Although the command director was neither directly nor indirectly linked to the lapses of specific officers down the line, and he was not at fault over the lapses, Mr Wong said he was formally the apex of the supervisory and management chain of command overseeing the detention centre. – CNA/ac

[via CNA]

> ICJ rules for S’pore on islet dispute with Malaysia

ICJ rules for S’pore on islet dispute with Malaysia

THE HAGUE – THE International Court of Justice ruled on Friday in favour of Singapore in its 28-year sovereignty dispute with Malaysia over the tiny uninhabited island of Pedra Branca.

‘The court, by 12 votes to four, finds that sovereignty…belongs to the Republic of Singapore,’ Judge Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh said, reading out the ruling.

Ownership of the island’s rocky outcrop- Middle Rocks- was given to Malaysia.

Pedra Branca is considered important for its strategic position and impact on territorial marine boundaries. It lies 7.7 nautical miles off the Malaysian state of Johor.

The dispute came to the fore when Singapore protested in 1980 against a new Malaysian map of its maritime boundaries which claimed the islet for itself.

Years of bilateral talks failed to resolve the matter and the parties agreed to seek the intervention of the UN court.

[via ST]

> Stinkgapore wins Pedo Bearca?! o.O

An artistic impression

> Alert! Facebook virus!

Dont ever. ever. ever. click on this kind of links. ever.

For your sake and mine. Curiosity kills the cat, and those around it.

Thanks.

> World Class MRT Transport! SMRT adds 700 extra train trips a week!

SMRT is increasing the number of train trips by at least 700 a week to cut commuters’ waiting time and provide them with a more comfortable ride.

In February, 83 more train trips per week had been added. Now, SMRT is introducing even more trips.

Vincent Tan, Vice President, Rail Operations, SMRT Trains, said: “We have added train trips where possible so that the average trainload is not more than 1,200 passengers.“

“The added services will also mean that the trains will arrive within five minutes or less if the passenger loads are within 1,000 and 1,200 passengers.”

[via CNA]

——

Or in ahgong hippo’s words…

> Racist blogger arrested. “I’M SHOCKED THAT PEOPLE READ MY BLOG”

Get your copy of TNP today at all newstands ~

Also on EDMW

> CJ7 mated with Chicken Little

> Man who puts feet up and sleeps in train escorted out

This man who ignored the repeated advice from MRT staff to put his feet down and not sleep in the train was eventually escorted by several rtrain officers.

According to the STOMPer, the man, who had his legs up on the seats with his soiled socks on, was politely asked by an MRT staff to put his legs down.

However, the man refused, said the STOMPer.

He said the train staff asked him repeatedly to put his feet down, but the man got up and deliberately slept on several seats.

Eventually, the man was escorted out of the train by a few other staff, the STOMPer said.

“This kind of behaviour is absurd! He shouldn’t have shown such rude behaviour when asked to merely put down his legs,” he said.

[via STOMP]