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Six Bangladeshis first to be charged in Singapore for terrorism financing

The six Bangladeshis charged were (top row from left to right) Mamun Leakot Ali, 29; Md Jabath Kysar Haje Norul Islam Sowdagar, 30; Miah Rubel, 26; (bottom row from left to right) Rahman Mizanur, 31; Sohel Hawlader, 29; Zzaman Daulat, 34.

Six Bangladeshi nationals were charged in court on Friday (27 May) for allegedly providing, collecting and possessing money for terrorist purposes, the first to be charged under an Act to suppress terrorism financing.

In a statement released by the police, the Commercial Affairs Department began investigations on 8 April this year after they received information that several radicalised Bangladeshi nationals were involved in terrorism financing activities.

The six were among the group of eight Bangladeshi nationals detained under the Internal Security Act last month. The eight allegedly plotted to commit terror attacks and assassinations in Bangladesh in order to establish an Islamic state.

They were charged in court for providing and/or collecting property for terrorist purposes under Section 4(a) of the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act, Chapter 325 (“TSOFA”). They are: Rahman Mizanur, 31; Mamun Leakot Ali, 29; Miah Rubel, 26; Zzaman Daulat, 34; Md Jabath Kysar Haje Norul Islam Sowdagar, 30; Sohel Hawlader, 29.

Two of the six - Miah and Md Jabath - were also charged for possession of property for terrorist purposes under section 5 of the same Act.

Mamun is claiming trial to one charge. He, like the rest of the accused, were accompanied by officers from the Gurkha contingent into court.

When asked by District Judge Christopher Goh why he is claiming trial, Mamun said that could not remember if he had passed the S$500 stipulated in the charge to Rahman for the purpose of facilitating terrorism in Bangladesh.

“I’ve given him money before. I have given him more than S$500 but I never instructed him to pay the money to any (terrorist group) on my behalf,” said Mamun, who was later carried out of the docks by two Gurkha officers.

The other five accused pleaded guilty to their respective charges and will be brought back to court on Tuesday (31 May) to be sentenced. No bail was granted to all of the accused.

At about 2 pm, three armoured vehicles, accompanied by a few other police vehicles, were seen entering the State Courts compound. Security was tight with heavily clad officers from the Gurkha contingent armed with automatic rifles seen in the car park entrance of the courts.

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A police armoured vehicle (left) that is said to be carrying two of the six Bangladeshis charged for their role in terrorism financing. (Photo: Safhras Khan/Yahoo Singapore)

An officer on site confirmed to the media that the Bangladeshis were in the armoured vehicles. Yahoo Singapore understands that each of the armoured vehicles was carrying two suspects each.

If found guilty, each of the six accused faces a maximum fine of $500,000 or a jail term of up to 10 years or both.