Malaysia detains JI leader Mas Selamat for two years

KUALA LUMPUR - An Islamic militant described as Singapore's most wanted man has been detained under Malaysian security laws for a two-year term, state media reported Wednesday.

Mas Selamat bin Kastari, the alleged head of the Singapore cell of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) which has links to Al-Qaeda, was captured in Malaysia's south in April after being on the run for more than a year.

The 48-year-old escaped from his high-security detention centre in Singapore in February 2008 by squeezing through a toilet window and climbing over a fence, triggering a huge manhunt.

The state Bernama news agency said Mas Selamat has been detained for a two-year term under Malaysia's Internal Security Act (ISA) which allows for indefinite detention without trial.

"(He) will be detained for two years under the ISA in the Kamunting detention camp," it quoted an unnamed source familiar with his capture as saying.

Bernama said any extradition proceedings with Singapore would be discussed only after the two-year term had been completed. - AFP/BERNAMA/vm