ISA Watch - Singapore
Update 15 Sept 2006: Release of 2 alleged JI Detainees on Restriction Orders
Two (alleged) members of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group who had been detained on Orders of Detention (ODs) under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since Sep 2002 have been released and placed on Restriction Orders (ROs) under the ISA. Said bin Ismail and Munain bin Turru were released on 14 Sep 2006 when their ODs expired. They were placed on 2-year ROs under the ISA, which took effect on 15 Sep 2006 and which subject them to conditions governing their activities and movements. Both Said and Munain had cooperated with ISD in the investigations into the JI, and had responded positively to rehabilitation, including religious counselling. Ministry of Home Affairs 15 September 2006 Source: Singapore government media release Update 30 June 2006: Release of 5 alleged JI detainees and detention of alleged 5 JI members Background Five persons who were detained under Orders of Detention (ODs) under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for their involvement in the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist organisation were released on 30 Jun 2006. Between Mar and May 2006, 5 Singaporean JI members were served with ODs under the ISA as part of ISD�s on-going security operation against the local JI network. There are presently 36 people on ODs, 5 on SDs and 19 on Restriction Orders under the ISA for involvement in terrorist activities. Release of 5 JI Detainees The 5 detainees who were released on 30 Jun 2006 were Azman bin Jalani, Faiz Abdullah Ashiblie, Habibullah s/o Hameed, Zulkifli bin Mohamed Jaffar and Faiz bin Abu Bakar Bafana. They had cooperated with ISD on investigations into the JI, and had responded positively to rehabilitation, including religious rehabilitation. They are assessed to no longer pose a security threat to Singapore. Detention of 5 JI Members The 5 JI members detained under the ISA are Mas Selamat bin Kastari (Mas Selamat), Mohamed Rashid bin Zainal Abidin (Mohamed Rashid), Muhamad Ismail bin Anuwarul (Muhamad Ismail), Abdul Rashid bin Anwarul (Abdul Rashid), and Abdul Nassir bin Anwarul (Abdul Nassir). Mas Selamat bin Kastari Mas Selamat was the leader of the Singapore JI network. He fled Singapore in Dec 2001 following the arrests of Singapore JI members in ISD�s security operation. Mas Selamat was involved in plans by the JI to mount attacks against foreign and local establishments in Singapore, such as the US Embassy and the American Club, the Ministry of Defence Headquarters at Bukit Gombak, as well as the Ministry of Education building at North Buona Vista Drive. Mas Selamat�s role included directing Singapore JI members to undertake reconnaissance of these establishments and handing over the reconnaissance material to the JI operational leaders based in Malaysia. After he fled Singapore, Mas Selamat continued to target Singapore. Specifically, he plotted to hijack an airplane in order to crash it into Changi Airport. When his initial attempt to do so was thwarted, he continued to believe in the feasibility of the plan and intended to pursue it in the future when the opportunity presented itself. Mas Selamat was arrested and detained under the ISA in Mar 2006. Mohamed Rashid bin Zainal Abidin Mohamed Rashid was a Singapore JI operative who had undergone military training in Mindanao. He was a member of Mas Selamat�s group that fled Singapore in Dec 2001, and was involved in Mas Selamat�s plan to hijack a plane in order to crash it into Changi Airport. Mohamed Rashid was arrested and detained under the ISA in May 2006. Muhamad Ismail bin Anuwarul, Abdul Rashid bin Anwarul & Abdul Nassir bin Anwarul Muhamad Ismail, Abdul Rashid and Abdul Nassir are Singaporeans who were members of the JI network. In addition, Abdul Nassir and Muhamad Ismail had undergone military training in Mindanao and Afghanistan respectively. They were arrested and detained under the ISA in Mar 2006. Ministry of Home Affairs 30 June 06 Source: Singapore government media release Update 6 February 2006: Response to queries on Mas Selamat In response to media queries on Mas Selamat, the Ministry of Home Affairs has responded as follows: "Mas Selamat bin Kastari, the Singaporean leader of the local Jemaah Islamiyah network who was detained by the Indonesian authorities in Feb 2003 on charges related to possessing falsified identification documents, was deported to Singapore on 3 Feb 2006. He is currently under ISA arrest and investigation into his case will now proceed.Ministry of Home Affairs 6 Feb 06 Source: Singapore government media release Update - 11 Nov 2005 One alleged member of the JI who was detained under the ISA in Jan 2002 has been released on a Suspension Direction (SD). The Government has detained another member of the JI. Andrew Gerard Andrew Gerard @ Ali Ridhaa bin Abdullah, had his detention suspended and was released on 24 Oct 2005. Gerard was issued with a 2-year Order of Detention (OD) in Jan 2002, which was extended for 2 years in Jan 2004. Under the SD, he is subject to conditions governing his activities and movements. Mohammad Sharif bin Rahmat Another alleged member of the JI has been detained under the ISA: Mohammad Sharif bin Rahmat, a 35-year-old Singaporean. He was detained for two years with effect from 5 Aug 2005. Source: Extracts from Singapore government media release dated 11 Nov 2005 Background Between August and September 2002, 22 persons were arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in the second round of ISD�s security operations against the alleged local Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) networks. 18 persons were placed under Orders of Detention (ODs) for a period of 2 years from 15 Sep 2002, while one person was placed under an OD for 2 years from 8 Oct 2002. The other 3 persons were not detained but were placed under Restriction Orders (ROs) for 2 years from 15 Sep 2002. Extension of 17 ODs The ODs of 17 of the 19 detainees have been extended by 2 years (16 of the ODs have been extended from 15 Sep 2004, and one from 8 Oct 2004). It is alleged that these 17 detainees have had long and extensive exposure to militant ideology and had received military or terrorist training. Several of them were allegedly directly involved in terrorism-related activities, including terrorist targeting. Release of 2 Detainees The ODs of 2 of the 19 detainees have not been extended and they were on 15 Sep 2004. The 2 detainees are Mahfuh bin Haji Halimi and Salim bin Marwan. They will be subject to ISD supervision after their release. Restriction Orders (ROs) have been issued against them. RO Cases Of the 3 RO cases, the ROs of Mohd Hisham bin Hairi and Sajahan bin Abdul Rahman lapsed on 14 Sep 2004 and have not been extended. Both persons underwent "counselling, including religious counselling under the supervision of ISD." The RO of Fauzi bin Abu Bakar Bafana has been extended by 2 years from 15 Sep 2004. He will continue to receive "counselling". PERSONS DETAINED FOR FURTHER 2-YEAR TERM UNDER THE ISA
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