M’sia police hand over top suspect

Published on December 08, 2005 - Insurgent with Bt3-million reward on his head said to be being interrogated at secret location, but police won’t confirm. One of the most wanted men in the ongoing insurgency in the deep South has been arrested by Malaysian special branch police, who have quietly handed him over to their Thai counterparts. The man, Manase Jeloh, 35, has a Bt3-million reward on his head.

He was handed over on Tuesday to the deputy national police chief, General Priewphan Damapong, and is being kept at an undisclosed location for further interrogation, according to a source.

Neither senior police officials nor those at the multi-agency Southern Border Provinces Peace-building Command would publicly confirm Manase’s arrest yesterday.

The suspected insurgent is reported to have been affiliated with the Pattani United Liberation Organisation. An official reward of Bt1 million for his capture has been on offer for about two years, and was recently raised to Bt3 million.

Manase used several names, including Chakarim Useng Cheloh, Kasim Bin Chelah and Ustas Seng, the source said. He was born on June 30, 1970, and lived in Pattani. He is believed to have undergone about four years of training in Libya.

Police suspect him of involvement in several attacks in the southernmost provinces, including planting bombs on several occasions. He recently fled to Malaysia before being arrested in Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, violence has continued unabated in the restive region, resulting in one death on Tuesday night.

In a brutal slaying, a former village defence volunteer, Ahware Salae, 41, was shot dead by suspected Islamic militants at his home in Pattani.

Ahware was shot twice in the chest by two unknown intruders while sleeping along with his family at their house in Sai Buri district. His wife and children hugged his blood-soaked body and begged the gunmen to stop shooting, but the gunmen ignored them and dragged Ahware out of the house and shot him two more times, police said.

Ahware, who quit his post several months ago because of concerns about his own safety, died at the scene.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in the unrest in the deep South since January 2004. The violence is blamed on a mix of Islamic separatism, organised crime and drug trafficking.

Suspected militants have repeatedly threatened defence volunteers and others – both Buddhists and Muslims – who are believed to be supporters of the Thai government.