13 of 40 suspected terrorists have been prosecuted

The Police Special Branch's counter terrorism division in Bukit Aman detained 40 people suspected of planning to join a terrorist group in Syria.

Some of the suspects were also believed to have been recruiting local individuals to join the purported 'jihad' in Syria since February last year.

They were believed to have prepared the new recruits with military training prior to being sent to Syria.

The division's principal assistant director, SAC Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said of the number, 13 had already been prosecuted.

Eleven of the suspects were charged under Chapter VIA – Offences Relating to Terrorism, under the Penal Code while two, under the Firearms Act.

"Fifteen suspects are still under investigation while 12 have been freed due to lack of evidence," he told Bernama when contacted Thursday.

Yesterday, three male suspects were brought to the Sessions Court in Sepang for attempting to provide support to the militant group, Islamic State (IS).

Architect Mohd Syafrein Rasid, 26, from Kuantan, Pahang; trader Mohd Rosmadi Che Daud, 42, from Ipoh, Perak; and engineer Mohamad Yusoffe Ishak, 26, from Arau, Perlis, were intercepted when they tried to board a flight to Istanbul, Turkey.

In February last year, an Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee, Yazid Sufaat; a housewife, Halimah Hussein; and one Mohd Hilmi Hasim were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

The suspects aged between 30 and 50s, were believed to have masterminded the recruitment of Malaysian individuals for terrorism-related activities.

Meanwhile, the group had also targeted female university and school students in their recruitment drive.

Ayob said misled Malaysians were found to be sympathetic to three militant groups in Syria, namely, the IS, Jabhat Al Nusra and Ajnad Al Sham.