Ex-logistics professional took steps to
cover his tracks after transferring funds to support ISIS. The first
Singaporean here to be charged with terror financing was yesterday found guilty
and sentenced to 33 months' jail.
On Monday, Imran Kassim, a 36-year-old
former logistics professional, admitted to transferring funds to support the
Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). He had transferred $450 in 2014 through
remittance company Western Union to Mohamad Alsaied Alhmidan in Turkey to help
him push and publish ISIS propaganda.
On an official website, the United States
government lists Mohamad Alsaied as a specially designated national, and says
he is linked to ISIS. Based on Imran's admissions in court, a remittance form
and receipt, and his statements to the authorities, District Judge Seah
Chi-Ling found Imran guilty yesterday.
Imran faced prison time of up to 10 years
or a fine not exceeding $500,000, or both penalties under the Terrorism
(Suppression of Financing) Act. His 33-month sentence was backdated to April 15
last year.
Yesterday, the judge noted that Imran knew
money he sent would help ISIS, which is clearly a terrorist organisation. Imran
had said in his statements that he transferred the money because he believed
the donation would help spread support for ISIS, gather more supporters for it
and raise awareness about the group.
Imran had also claimed that ISIS has been
portrayed wrongfully. Judge Seah said that even if Imran had managed to show
this was true - which he had not - such arguments were not a defence in
criminal law.
On Monday, while Imran admitted to making
the fund transfer and accepted that he did it to benefit ISIS, he also argued
that he had not broken the law as he did not recognise Singapore law and
recognised only syariah law.
Islamic scholars say Muslims are obliged to
follow the laws of the land where they live, and that ISIS and its violence are
a distortion of Islamic teachings.
The court heard yesterday that the
prosecution sought a jail sentence of 32 to 33 months, citing factors such as
the deliberate nature of Imran's financing, the transnational element of his
offences, and his lack of remorse.
A notable aggravating factor in Imran's
case was the fact that terrorism-financing offences are hard to detect and he
had taken steps to cover his tracks, noted the prosecution.
Imran downloaded an application called
Surespot to add Mohamad Alsaied, so that he could communicate with him and get
details of where to transfer the money, said the prosecution in its sentencing
submissions.
After making the transfer, Imran deleted
the app as he did not want to leave evidence of his actions and wanted to evade
detection, it added. Asked by the judge if he had anything to add before being
sentenced, Imran said: "I think I've said everything that I wish to say
yesterday."
Imran has been detained under the Internal
Security Act since August 2017 and was issued a detention order for intending
to take part in armed violence overseas. While Imran was the first Singaporean
here to be charged with terror financing in April last year, he was the second
to be convicted.
Last October, former IT professional Ahmed
Hussein Abdul Kadir Sheik Uduman, 35, who was charged after Imran, became the
first Singaporean to be convicted of funding terrorism. He had been charged in
September last year and was sentenced to 2� years' jail.
After Imran was sentenced, his younger
brother, who declined to be named, told reporters that while Imran was a good
person and "a very principled man", his family did not share his
sentiments about ISIS and rejected the organisation.
He said: "(Imran) is never one to
remain quiet when he sees something wrong. However, let me be clear that we
stand with Singapore against Imran's actions.
"He ultimately wanted to protect
people. To save civilians and not kill them. But he has sided with an enemy of
Singapore, known for using fear, intimidation and manipulation, as a means to
their end. We fully reject ISIS as an organisation, and the stain they have
left on Islam."
Source:
Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd – 15 January 2020
Author: Hariz Baharudin
Author: Hariz Baharudin
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