Terror financing: 4 Bangladeshis jailed between 2 and 5 years
Top row (left to right): Rahman Mizanur, 31, Miah Rubel, 26; Bottow row (left to right): Md Jabath Kysar Haje Norul Islam Sowdager, 30; and Sohel Hawlader Ismail Hawlader, 29. Photos: MHA
SINGAPORE — The Bangladeshis detained for forming a clandestine terror cell here were on Tuesday (July 12) sentenced to between two and five years’ jail, in a landmark case on terrorism financing in Singapore.
Noting that terrorism is a “clear and present danger”, District Judge Kessler Soh said the stiff punishments for the quartet were warranted as a deterrent against similar activities here.
The four were among the six who had been charged, and were the first to be dealt with under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act since the statute was enacted in 2002. The other two accused — Zzaman Daulat, 34, and Mamun Leakot Ali, 29 — are claiming trial to their charges.
The prosecution said that while the S$1,360 these Bangladeshis had raised for their plot to overthrow their home government may seem insignificant, much havoc can be wrought with inexpensive weapons — they cited improvised explosive devices and fertiliser fuel bombs as examples.
“The actual cost of mounting a terrorist act can be modest, but the price paid by society in the aftermath of any terrorist act is far greater. This is made ever so much more poignant in the light of the most recent terrorist acts in Bangladesh and elsewhere,” prosecutors said. “Plotting to finance terrorist acts such as killing non-believers such as Hindus, Christians and Buddhists strikes at the very heart of Singaporeans’ religious harmony.”
These men were part of Islamic State in Bangladesh (ISB), the first all-foreigner terror cell to be dealt with under the Internal Security Act here. They were placed under two-year Detention Orders, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced in May.
The group’s ringleader, Rahman Mizanur, 31, got the heftiest penalty of 60 months’ jail. He had actively solicited for money from his members to wage jihad against those who opposed their plan to bring Bangladesh under IS’ self-declared caliphate.
Miah Rubel, 26, and Md Jabath Kysar Haje Norul Islam Sowdagar, 30, who both served as treasurers in ISB, were each sentenced to 30 months’ jail. Sohel Hawlader Ismail Hawlader, 29, was jailed for two years. Their jail terms were backdated to May 27, the day they were first brought to court.
The prosecution said an aggravating factor in the case was the fact that they had financed ISB in the hope of eventually joining Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis), one of the world’s most dangerous terrorist outfits, which has been “escalating its attacks in Bangladesh at a shocking rate”. Since September last year, Isis has claimed responsibility for 21 attacks in Bangladesh, most recently in its capital Dhaka last week, where gunmen killed 20 people at a cafe and left 30 wounded.
Prosecutors added that the group’s actions have also roused public disquiet in Singapore, which prides itself as multireligious and houses a growing number of Bangladeshi workers.
Considering the men’s salaries, which ranged from S$900 to S$1,800, the amount they had raised was significant. Foreign courts have taken a tough approach towards similar offences involving small sums of money.
Pleading for leniency in a heavily guarded courtroom, all four men expressed regret and remorse. Rahman, who delivered the longest mitigation plea and was the only one who spoke in English, said he had been misled by his friends and the media. “This is my very big mistake. I am very, very sorry for this mistake and wrong activities ... I have a new daughter and I want to see her. I promise you, I won’t involve (myself) in any other terrorism activities.”
In response to queries, an MHA spokesperson said: “Whether the Detention Orders are still necessary will be assessed. We will not comment on where they will be serving their sentences.” The maximum penalty for terrorism financing is 10 years’ jail and/or a fine of S$500,000.
