The four Bangladeshi workers, from left, Rahman Mizanur, 31, Miah Rubel, 26, Md Jabath Kysar Haje Norul Islam Sowdagar, 31, and Sohel Hawlader Ismail Hawlader, 29.
The Straits TimesA Singapore court on Tuesday sentenced four Bangladeshi workers to imprisonment on charge of financing terrorism under the Internal Security Act of the South-East Asian country.
Of the convicts, Mizanur Rahman, 31, was jailed for 60 months, Rubel Miah, 26, Md Jabath Kysar Haje Norul Islam Sowdagar, 31, were jailed for 30 months and Sohel Hawlader Ismail Hawlader, 29, was jailed for 24 months, according to the Straits Times.
The court backdated the sentences to May 27, the day the four first appeared before the court.
Bangladesh high commissioner to Singapore Mahbub Uz Zaman confirmed the court verdict but refused making further comments.
‘We do not make comment on court verdicts,’ he told New Age over phone.
Asked whether the high commission would seek consular access to the four convicts, the high commissioner replied, ‘let’s wait and see.’
The four, arrested in April, were earlier charged with providing or collecting money to fund extremism in Bangladesh. They reportedly pleaded guilty to their crimes on May 31.
Asking for deterrent sentences, the prosecution pointed out that the accused have caused public disquiet and were funding ISIS, a terrorist organisation.
The four were part of a group of six charged under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act, using the Act for the first time for prosecution in Singapore.
The other two – Zzaman Daulat, 34, and Mamun Leakot Ali, 29, denied the charges and ‘are claiming trial.’
Court documents had shown that the six had clearly defined roles. They were led by Mizanur with Mamun as the group’s deputy leader. Rubel Miah was in the group’s financial council while Jabath handled the group’s media. Zzaman and Sohel were in the group’s security and fighter councils respectively.
Rubel and Jabath were also accused of possessing money for terrorist purposes.
Court documents also showed that Jabath was in possession of $1,360, which included a sum of $1,060 that he was handed by Rubel in the past month. In all, the six had contributed sums of $60 to $500 to the cause.
The six were among eight people arrested between late March and early April. They were working in the marine and construction industries.
They were reportedly planning attacks back home in hopes of toppling the government.
Their goal was to set up an Islamic state in Bangladesh and bring it under the self-declared caliphate of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
Source: New Age
