Singaporean who attempted to join Thai insurgents detained under ISA

SINGAPORE - A 24-year-old has been detained for two years under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for attempting to engage in violence in Thailand, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Thursday.

Singaporean Asyrani Hussaini was detained in March after a series of attempts to join insurgents in the Muslim-majority region in south Thailand.

Influenced by radical ideology online, he had tried to establish contact with Thai insurgents. He failed, and tried to enter Thailand illegally.

He was unsuccessful and entered another regional country illegally, where he was arrested and convicted for immigration offences, the authorities said. After he completed his sentence, he was deported to Singapore and arrested under the ISA.

The MHA also said that another Singaporean has been placed on a restriction order for two years, from Sept 10.

Mustafa Kamal Mohammad, 58, was a member of the militant Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the Philippines. He had undergone training at its Camp Abu Bakar, and raised funds for the organisation.

He left Singapore in 2001 and remained overseas after learning of the security operation against the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) group that started in December of that year.

He eventually returned to Singapore in January this year to account for his past involvement with the militant group.

Restriction orders limit someone's personal freedom - he may not change his residence, employment or travel out of Singapore without official approval. He also cannot issue public statements or join organisations without the authorities' approval.

In its statement, the MHA also said that three individuals were released from detention between April and July. They are Jahpar Osman, Samad Subari and Abdul Majid Kunji Mohamad.

Jahpar and Samad were JI members detained under the ISA. Abdul Majid had undergone military training at Camp Abu Bakar in Mindanao, and helped the MILF in procuring funds and weapon components.

Meanwhile, restriction orders against JI members Arifin Ali and Mohammad Sharif Rahmat, and MILF member Ahmad Jalaluddin Sanawi, were allowed to lapse between May and August.

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