KUALA LUMPUR: Eight men had been arrested by police for their alleged involvement in terrorism between Oct 30 and Nov 12.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the men, seven from the Philippines and one Malaysian, were arrested in a series of raids conducted by the Federal police Special Branch’s Counter Terrorism Division in Putrajaya and Sabah.
All seven Filipinos, aged 27 and 60, are members of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), a southern-Philippines based terrorist group. Among those arrested was a 35-year-old decapitator; while the 38-year-old Malaysian was believed to have had funded the Islamic State (IS).
Fuzi said in the first raid a 38-year-old Malaysian, an agent selling gold bars, was arrested in Putrajaya on Oct 30.
“He had channelled funds to Akel Zainal, a Malaysian who joined IS militants in Syria, in 2017 to support terrorism activities.
“Three Filipinos were arrested two days (Nov 1) later in Tenom, Sabah. The suspects, aged 27 and 51, all labourers, are ASG leaders involved in kidnapping for ransom (KFR) activities in Sabah and southern Philippines.
“One of the suspects, a 34-year-old man, is able to produce weapons for ASG,” he said in a statement today.
He said the third arrest was made on Nov 8 on two Filipinos, aged 35 and 46, who worked as a labourer and technician respectively.
“Both are also ASG militant members and also involved in KFR. The 35-year-old suspect’s role was to recruit kids to join ASG and acted as a human shield during the fight with Philippine soldiers in Basilan, southern Philippines. He is also a decapitator.
“The duo were planning to flee to southern Philippines to avoid being caught by Malaysian authorities,” he said.
A 30-year-old blacksmith was arrested on Nov 10 in Kinarut, Sabah.
“He is a commander in ASG, also the right-hand man of ASG notorious leader Furuji Indama.
“The last arrest involving a 60-year-old night market trader was made on Nov 12. He had protected one of the suspects, who was arrested on Nov 8, from police,” he said.