Seven Abu Sayyaf militants and one Malaysian Islamic State member arrested.
Seven linked to Abu Sayyaf held in Sabah, while M’sian nabbed in Putrajaya
KUALA LUMPUR: Seven Filipino Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants and a Malaysian Islamic State (IS) member have been rounded up by the Federal police following anti-terror swoops in Putrajaya and Sabah, says Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.
The Inspector-General of Police said the suspects were arrested by the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division between Oct 30 and Nov 12.
“We arrested the 38-year-old Malaysian man in Putrajaya. He is suspected of channelling funds to Malaysian Islamic State militant Akel Zainal, who is in Syria.
“We believe he channelled the money to Akel in 2017,” he said.
The second round of arrests occurred in Tenom, Sabah, involving three Filipinos, aged between 27 and 51.
“They are members of ASG behind kidnapping-for-ransom in southern Philippines and Sabah.
“One of the suspects, aged 34 years old, has the skills to make weapons,” said Mohamad Fuzi.
The next series of arrests were conducted in Ranau, where a 35 and 46-year-old Filipino were apprehended.
“They are a technician and a labourer. Their tasks are to recruit children to join ASG as well as use them as human shields if the group is surrounded by the Philippine army in Basilan,” he said.
Mohamad Fuzi said the duo were also executioners tasked with beheading hostages.
“They were planning to escape to the southern Philippines but we managed to intercept them,” he said.
The next arrest involved a 30-year-old Filipino in Kinarut, Sabah, on Nov 10.
“He is one of the ASG commanders and the right-hand man of ASG senior leader Furuji Indama,” Mohamad Fuzi said.
The last arrest was made on Nov 12, where police detained a 60-yearold Filipino pasar malam trader.
“He is believed to have harboured a known wanted militant on Nov 8,” he said.
All the suspects are being held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).