Singaporean Charged with Financing of Terrorism

1.   A 50-year-old Singaporean man, Mohamed Kazali bin Salleh (“ Kazali ”), was charged in court on 19 July 2021 for providing money for the purpose of facilitating terrorist acts, an offence under section 4(a) ^[1] punishable under Section 6A(a) of the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act, Chapter 325 (TSOFA).

2.   Kazali, a businessman based in Malaysia, was arrested by Malaysian Special Branch officers in December 2018. He was deported to Singapore and handed over to the Internal Security Department (ISD) on 7 January 2019 for investigations into his terrorism-related activities. He was issued with an Order of Detention (OD) under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in January 2019 for his support of the terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). He was a close associate of Syria-based ISIS militant Malaysian Wan Mohd Aquil bin Wan Zainal Abidin @ Akel Zainal (“ Akel ”), believed to be the most senior ISIS fighter in Syria prior to his reported death in March 2019.

3.   A parallel investigation by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) of the Singapore Police Force found that in 2013 and 2014, Kazali had allegedly provided monies amounting to a total of RM1,500 (approximately S$576)  and USD351.75 (approximately S$450) over three occasions to Akel. Kazali had purportedly intended for these funds to be used for the purpose of facilitating terrorist acts in Syria. The act of providing money in support of terrorist purposes, regardless of the amount, is a serious offence under the TSOFA. If convicted, the OD against Kazali will be cancelled, and he will serve the sentence imposed by the Court. To prevent him from spreading his radical ideas to other inmates, he will be held separately, and will continue to undergo rehabilitation whilst serving his prison sentence. An assessment will be made at the end of his sentence whether he has been successfully rehabilitated or remains a threat to society. If he remains a threat, he may be detained further under the ISA.

4.   Terrorism and terrorism financing are grave threats to domestic and international security, and global action is required to deprive terrorist groups of funding and materials. Singapore is part of this global effort and is strongly committed to combatting terrorism financing, regardless of whether the monies are used to facilitate terrorist acts locally or abroad.

5.   Members of the public are reminded not to remit money of any amount, or provide any support through the provision of services, supplies or any material to a terrorist organisation, or for facilitating or carrying out any terrorist act. Anyone convicted of the offence of providing property and services for terrorist purposes shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $500,000, or both. Anyone with information on such activities should inform the authorities promptly.

[1] As of 1 April 2019, Section 4(a) of the TSOFA has been renamed as Section 4(1)(a) under the same Act.