SINGAPORE, Feb 15 (NNN-CNA) — Two Singaporean men have been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for their involvement in terrorism-related activities, the Ministry of Home Affairs said.
Mohamed Kazali Salleh and Hazim Syahmi Mahfoot were both detained in January.
Kazali, a 48-year-old businessman based in Malaysia, was deported to Singapore in January after being arrested in Malaysia last December.
He is a close associate of Syria-based Daesh militant Malaysian Wan Mohd Aquil Wan Zainal Abidin @ Akel Zainal, MHA said in a news release.
“Akel is believed to be the most senior Malaysian Daesh fighter in Syria, and was identified by the Malaysian authorities to be responsible for two recent Daesh-linked attack plots in Malaysia,” MHA added.
Kazali relocated to Malaysia with his family when he was a young child and had been working in Johor Bahru over the past decade.
When Akel decided to go to Syria to fight in late 2013, Kazali gave him financial assistance for his trip and continued to support him throughout his time in Syria.
Kazali also took a pledge of allegiance to Daesh leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi.
Hazim, a 28-year-old freelance car exporter based in Singapore, met Kazali in May 2018 in Singapore.
“They had business dealings, and quickly developed a personal friendship. Hazim was influenced by Kazali’s radical outlook.
“Hazim looked up to Kazali and was convinced by Kazali that he should undertake armed violence against the perceived enemies of his religion, specifically non-Muslims,” MHA said.
The Internal Security Department (ISD) of Singapore and the Malaysian Special Branch cooperated closely on investigations into Kazali’s terrorism-related activities and his links with Akel.
Kazali was arrested in Johor Bahru by Malaysian Special Branch officers in December last year, and was deported to Singapore and handed over to ISD on Jan 7, 2019. He was arrested and subsequently issued with an order of detention under the ISA.
Hazim was in turn arrested in Singapore and issued an order of detention last month. — NNN-CNA
