3 Jemaah Islamiyah members released from detention

SINGAPORE — Three members of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) — an Islamic militant group — were released from detention last year after they were no longer deemed a threat to national security, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said yesterday.

Sahrudin Mohd Sapian, Mohamed Rafee Abdul Rahman and Mohamed Rashid Zainal Abidin, who had all undergone terrorist training overseas, were placed under Restriction Orders (RO).

Sahrudin and Rafee, both of whom had received terrorist training in Afghanistan in 2000, were detained under the Internal Security Act in 2012 and released on Feb 24 last year. Rashid, who had undergone terrorist training in south Philippines, was detained in May 2006 and released in May last year.

A person who is placed under RO must abide by certain conditions and restrictions. For example he is not allowed to change residence or employment, or travel out of Singapore, without clearance from the director of the Internal Security Department.

He also cannot issue public statements, address public meetings, or be part of any organisation without the approval of the director of the ISD.

The MHA also said that ROs against four JI members and one self-radicalised individual have been allowed to lapse between June 2014 and last month, after all five men have proved themselves to be cooperative and responsive to rehabilitation efforts. YVONNE LIM