20 TERROR SUSPECTS HELD IN 4 STATES
Former teacher, North African among those arrested for seeking funds, planning bombings
AN Islamic State (IS) bombing suspect and ‘money man’, as well as a former teacher who was the administrator of a terror WhatsApp group were among 20 suspected terrorists held by police.
A North African, who was involved in terror activities in Syria and Iraq, was also among the suspects held by the Federal police Special Branch Counter-Terrorism Division in four states — Selangor, Johor, Sabah and here — between Nov 30 and Dec 15.
The other suspects were seven locals, seven Filipinos and five Indonesians, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.
In the first raid, police nabbed a 24-yearold Indonesian in Pontian, Johor, believed to be a senior leader of the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) group, whose role was to collect funds in Malaysia before leaving for Syria to join the IS terrorist group.
The suspect, who was arrested on Nov 30, was also believed to be
involved in the bombing incident in Bandung, Indonesia in July and had entered Malaysia to avoid being caught by the Indonesian authorities.
On Dec 1, a 46-yearold former primary school teacher in Kuching, Sarawak, who allegedly planned to join the terrorist group in southern Philippines, was arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang.
The suspect was believed to be the group admin of a WhatsApp group called “The Rise of Jundullah”, which was involved in the planning of an attack on the Better Beer Festival 2017. Three of the group members had been arrested previously on Oct 10 in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan.
The third raid by the division involved the arrests of four Indonesians aged between 31 and 38 with help from the Eastern Sabah Security Command in Sandakan, Sabah on Dec 4.
The suspects had entered Malaysia illegally from Tarakan and Nunukan, Indonesia and planned to enter southern Philippines to join the terrorist group.
On Dec 6, a 50-year-old Filipino suspected of having ties with the Abu Sayyaf group’s supreme leader, was arrested here.
The suspect was believed to have recruited Filipinos around Kepong here to join the Abu Sayyaf group.
On Dec 10, in Sandakan, six Filipinos and five Malaysians aged between 16 and 47, who planned to join the terrorist group in southern Philippines, were arrested.
In another raid in Masai, Johor, a Filipino who was listed as a wanted suspect in the Philippines was arrested for suspicion of being involved in terror activities in the Philippines.
The final raid on Dec 15 saw a 31-year-old North African man arrested at KLIA.
The suspect was previously arrested in Turkey in September last year for being involved in terror activities in Iraq and Syria.
He entered Malaysia early this month from a neighbouring country and was arrested, thanks to intel from a foreign enforcement agency.
All suspects were detained under the Security Offences Act (Special Measures) 2012 (Sosma), Fuzi said.