Involvement with terrorism: Public university student arrested

A public university student and a foreigner were among 16 men who were detained, over alleged involvement with terrorist groups, at six locations in the country between Sept 21 and Oct 6.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, in a statement Sunday, said the suspects, aged between 20 and 38, were detained by the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division in operations in Selangor, Kelantan, Perak, Kedah, Penang and Sabah.

Those detained comprised businessmen (five), technicians (four), unemployed (two), a government school counselor, a bank employee, an executive manager, an antique goods dealer and a student.

Khalid said the student, 20, who was studying at a university in Johor, was detained at the KL International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, on Sept 22.

"Prior to that, the suspect had gone to Istanbul on Sept 7 and was detained by the Turkish authorities the next day (Sept 8) for planning to infiltrate into Syria to join a terrorist group.

"The arrest by the Turkish authorities was a result of a tip off by the Bukit Aman Special Branch," he said.

He said a 32-year-old foreign national was also arrested during one of the operations in Selangor, believed to be from North Africa, on suspicion of being a member of the Jahbat Al Nusra Group in Syria.

"The man was detained on Sept 25. Investigation found the suspect had infiltrated into the country several times since last May. When in Malaysia, he was believed to be involved in a syndicate falsifying travel documents for the use of the group," he said.

Meanwhile, the other 14 suspects were believed to be members of the Daish terrorist group from the Black Crow cell headed by Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedy.

All were suspected to have made their pledge of loyalty via online to Muhammad Wanndy and channeled funds to him, he said.

Hence Khalid said they were suspected of committing offences under Chapter VIA - terrorism-related offences, Penal Code (Act 574) and would be investigated in accordance with the procedure under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Act 747). -- Bernama