Singapore court jails four Bangladeshis linked to IS

Published July 12, 2016
A motorcade of armoured police vehicles, used to transport four Bangladeshi nationals prosecuted under a Singaporean anti-terror law,  outside the State court in Singapore on July 12, 2016. ─ AFP
A motorcade of armoured police vehicles, used to transport four Bangladeshi nationals prosecuted under a Singaporean anti-terror law, outside the State court in Singapore on July 12, 2016. ─ AFP

SINGAPORE: Four Bangladeshi workers who allegedly planned attacks linked to the militant Islamic State (IS) group in their own country were sentenced Tuesday to jail terms of up to five years.

Prosecutors said the men, who pleaded guilty, had contributed part of their salary to buy food, arms and weapons like knives and pistols to launch attacks in Bangladesh. The amounts ranged from 60 Singapore dollars ($42) to 1,360 Singapore dollars ($1,000).

Undated mugshots of the four Bangladeshi nationals. From L-R, Rahman Mizanur, Miah Rubel, Md Jabath Kysar Haje Norul Islam Sowdagar, and Sohel Hawlader Ismail Hawlader. ─ Ministry of Home Affairs/Handout via Reuters.
Undated mugshots of the four Bangladeshi nationals. From L-R, Rahman Mizanur, Miah Rubel, Md Jabath Kysar Haje Norul Islam Sowdagar, and Sohel Hawlader Ismail Hawlader. ─ Ministry of Home Affairs/Handout via Reuters.

They were part of a group detained in April under the country's Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial in cases where public safety is threatened.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has said the group's suspected leader, Rahman Mizanur, possessed guides on making weapons and bombs, as well as radical material from IS and Al Qaeda that he used to recruit the others.

Rahman, 31, pleaded guilty and was convicted of two charges of financing terrorism by inviting group members to contribute funds and handling the money to facilitate plans.

In sentencing Rahman to five years in jail, District Judge Kessler Soh emphasised that a deterrent sentence and "much stiffer punishment is warranted."

“He was the mastermind. He was the one who started this whole outfit,” the judge said.

Rahman was shackled as he arrived in court and looked down when the sentence was passed, surrounded by heavy police guard. He had earlier addressed the court in English, putting forth a lengthy plea for mitigation. "I wanted to learn my religion. (My friends) showed me the wrong way, the wrong activities," Rahman said.

"This is my very big mistake sir. I am very remorseful."

The three other men convicted were Miah Rubel, Muhammad Jabath Kysar Haje Norul Islam Sowdagar, and Sohel Hawlader Ismail Hawlader. They were sentenced to 2½ years, 2½ years and two years in jail, respectively.

The maximum sentence for financing terrorism is 10 years in jail and a fine of $500,000 Singapore dollars ($370,309).

Two other men have pleaded not guilty and their trial dates have not been set. Two other Bangladeshi men who were detained in April have not been charged and will be dealt with separately, officials have said.

In January, Singapore said it had arrested and deported 26 Bangladeshi construction workers for forming a religious study group that spread the ideologies of Al Qaeda and IS.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.