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Four Bangladeshis plead guilty in Singapore to terrorist financing
AFP on May 31, 2016, 4:56 pm
Singapore (AFP) - Four Bangladeshi guest workers who pleaded guilty to raising finances for an alleged Islamist terrorist plot in their homeland were convicted by a Singapore court on Tuesday and could face up to 10 years in jail.
The men, aged 26 to 31, were brought to court in three armoured vehicles and became the first to be prosecuted under a Singapore law specifically targeting terrorism financing.
They will be sentenced at a later date.
In court, the men were dressed in purple overalls with the word "detainee" emblazoned across their chests and backs, shackled at the hands and feet and closely watched by members of the elite Gurkha unit of the Singapore police.
Court documents said the men contributed, collected or possessed funds for the alleged plot ranging from Sg$60 ($44) to Sg$1,360.
For involvement in terrorist financing, the men face up to 10 years in jail, a maximum fine of Sg$500,000 ($362,000), or both.
Singapore, which depends heavily on Bangladeshis and other foreign workers in the construction sector, considers itself a potential target of extremists because of its strong military ties with the United States.
It was the second group of Bangladeshis rounded up in Singapore since 27 were arrested in late 2015, also over alleged plots in their homeland. All have since been deported.
State prosecutors say the second group's leader Rahman Mizanur, 31, had repeatedly tried to join the Islamic State (IS) group but was unsuccessful because he could not get visas to Turkey or Algeria. He then went to Singapore as a construction worker.
A fifth worker, Zzaman Daulat, 34, pleaded not guilty, along with a sixth man, and both will now go to trial.
"I know I contributed $200 but I didn't know it'll be used for terrorism," Zzamat said through a court interpreter.
The five were among eight Bangladeshis held since April under Singapore's tough Internal Security Act.
Items seized from them included manuals on bomb-making and how to use a 0.50 calibre sniper rifle, along with a list of Bangladesh government and military officials allegedly targeted for attack, Singapore's home affairs ministry said.
The Singapore convictions come amid growing concern in Bangladesh over an increase in attacks on liberals and religious minorities in the Muslim-majority nation.
4 Bangladeshi workers jailed 24 to 60 months for financing terrorism
The four Bangladeshi workers (from left) ringleader Rahman Mizanur, 31; Miah Rubel, 26; Md Jabath Kysar Haje Norul Islam Sowdagar, 31; and Sohel Hawlader Ismail Hawlader, 29 have received sentences ranging 24-60 months for financing terrorism.PHOTO: MHA
Published Jul 12, 2016, 12:41 pm SGT
Danson Cheong
SINGAPORE - Four Bangladeshi workers detained in April under the Internal Security Act (ISA) were sentenced to between 24 and 60 months for financing terrorism.
The four are Rahman Mizanur, 31; Miah Rubel, 26; Md Jabath Kysar Haje Norul Islam Sowdagar, 31; and Sohel Hawlader Ismail Hawlader, 29. They had pleaded guilty to their crimes on May 31.
They were earlier charged with providing or collecting money to fund terrorist acts in Bangladesh.
Ringleader Rahman was sentenced to 60 months' jail. Sohel was given 24 months while Miah and Jabath each got 30 months.
Armoured trucks ferrying Bangladeshi workers arriving at the State Courts
All the sentences will be backdated to May 27, the day the men first appeared in court.
Asking for deterrent sentences, the prosecution pointed out that the accused men have caused public disquiet and were funding one of the most dangerous terrorist organisations in the world: ISIS.
It had asked for 60 months for Rahman, 30 months for Miah and Jabath, and 24 months for Sohel.
The four were part of a group of six charged under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act (TSOFA) - the first time the Act has been used for prosecution.
The other two - Zzaman Daulat, 34 and Mamun Leakot Ali, 29 - have denied the charges and are claiming trial.
Court documents had shown that the men had clearly defined roles. They were led by Rahman, with Mamun as the group's deputy leader.
Miah was in the group's financial council, while Jabath handled the group's media.
Zzaman and Sohel were in the group's security and fighter councils respectively.
Miah and Jabath were also accused of possessing money for terrorist purposes.
Court documents also showed that Jabath was in possession of $1,360 - this includes a sum of $1,060 that he was handed by Miah last month.
In all, the six had contributed sums of $60 to $500 to the cause.
The six were among eight men arrested between late March and early April this year. Working in the marine and construction industries, they called themselves the Islamic State in Bangladesh (ISB).
They were planning attacks back home in hopes of toppling their government.
Their goal was to set up an Islamic state in Bangladesh and bring it under the self-declared caliphate of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
