SINGAPORE ANNOUNCES ARREST OF ONE TERRORIST,

S E C R E T SINGAPORE 000059 SIPDIS EAP/MTS - M. COPPOLA KUALA LUMPUR - PLEASE PASS TO CONSULAR SECTION E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2020 TAGS: PGOV PTER ASEC KVPR SN SUBJECT: SINGAPORE ANNOUNCES ARREST OF ONE TERRORIST, RELEASES OTHERS REF: A. 09 SINGAPORE 575 ¶B. 09 SINGAPORE 227 Classified By: CDA Joel Ehrendreich for reasons 1.4(b,d) ¶1. (S) Summary: Singapore has announced one new detention of a suspected terrorist under its Internal Security Act (ISA). Singapore authorities say they arrested Mohd Azmi bin Ali in November, when he was deported back to Singapore after being in hiding abroad since late 2001. Singapore last week released two ISA detainees under "Restriction Orders" limiting their ability to travel, saying the men have been successfully rehabilitated. Finally, long-standing Restriction Orders for three other allegedly rehabilitated terrorist suspects lapsed this past weekend and were not renewed. Local press reports indicate that Singapore currently holds 15 suspected terrorists in ISA custody and has an additional 45 persons on Restriction Orders. End Summary. Singapore Detained Another JI/MILF Member in November -------------- -------------- ¶2. (S) Singapore authorities disclosed this week that they detained Singaporean Mohd Azmi bin Ali, a member of both Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF),on November 16. Azmi had reportedly joined JI in 1989 and was involved in never-implemented plans to attack the Tiger Brewery and Singapore's public transportation network. He also received weapons training at MILF's Camp Abu Bakar in 1997. During his affiliations with JI and MILF, Azmi is said by Singapore authorities to have used the codenames "Uzair" and "Uqbah." According to the Government of Singapore, Azmi fled Singapore in December 2001 to avoid arrest and remained in hiding abroad until he was deported back to Singapore in November. (Note: Singapore did not disclose the deporting country. End Note.) Azmi's initial two-year preventive detention period under Singapore's Internal Security Act (ISA) began on December 15. Singapore Releases Two More Rehabilitated Terrorists -------------- -------------- ¶3. (S) Singapore also announced the January 6 release from ISA preventive detention of two other terrorists who had been in custody since January 2002. Mohamed Nazir bin Mohammed Uthman joined JI in 1999 and was deeply involved in 2001 planning for attacks on Western targets in Singapore, including embassies, the American Club, Paya Lebar Airbase, and Sembawang Wharf. In addition to conducting surveillance of potential targets, Nazir reportedly attempted to procure ammonium nitrate for planned truck bombs, among other things. Hashim bin Abas joined JI in 1991 and played numerous roles in the organization over the next decade, including treasurer, trainer, and attack planner. ¶4. (S) As with other releases of terrorist suspects whom Singapore believes it has successfully rehabilitated using its Religious Rehabilitation Group (reftels),Singapore's only comment on releasing Nazir and Hashim from ISA detention was couched in standardized language: "Nazir and Hashim have been cooperative in investigations and have responded positively to rehabilitation and religious counseling. They have been assessed to no longer pose a security threat that requires further preventive detention." They remain subject to Restriction Orders, likely to remain in effect for several years, that require them to continue counseling sessions and ask the government's permission before traveling abroad or changing their addresses. Restriction Orders Expire for Three Others -------------- ¶5. (S) Singapore made a brief announcement that Restriction Orders on three other ex-ISA detainees lapsed on January 9 after the government did not seek to renew them. The three ex-detainees are JI member Hamim bin Jaafar, JI member Yusri bin Mohamed Yusof, and MILF member Abdul Ghani bin Omar. The GOS again recited that the three had "been cooperative in investigations" and "responded to rehabilitation." Their Restriction Orders had been in effect since January 2004. Though no longer subject to Restriction Orders, the men will continue to be monitored by Singapore's Internal Security Department. Current Numbers of ISA Detainees and Restriction Orders -------------- -------------- ¶6. (U) Local press reports indicate that Singapore is currently holding 15 suspected terrorists in preventive detention under the ISA, and that 45 additional persons are subject to Restriction Orders. Actions Taken by Post - Legatt -------------- ¶7. (S) On Post's receipt of the foregoing information from the Government of Singapore, Legatt acted to ensure its appropriate dissemination within the USG by forwarding the six detainee and ex-detainee names noted above to CT Watch and by confirming that all six names are already on the no-fly list. Actions Taken by Post - Consular Section -------------- ¶8. (S) The Consular Section conducted independent name checks and verified that the six detainee and ex-detainee names noted above are in listed in CLASS with "00" hits. ¶9. (S) A local check of the Consular Consolidated Database (CCD) with available information (in other words, without specific biodata) indicates the following visa records for BIN ALI, Mohd Azmi. Recipients are requested to recheck the CCD to verify. Embassy Kuala Lumpur is copied for further verification. ALI, Mohd Azmi DOB: 06-FEB-1970 POB: MLAS Date of visa issuance: 10-JUN-97 Type: B1/B2 Validity and post: expires 09-JUN-2007 / KLL ALI, Mohd Azmi Bin DOB: 04-NOV-1963 POB: MLAS Date of visa issuance: 11-SEP-2003 Type: B1/B2 Validity and post: expires 10-SEP-2013 / KLL ¶10. (S) A local check of the CCD indicates no record for the following subjects. Recipients are requested to recheck CCD to verify. BIN MOHAMMED UTHMAN, Mohamed Nazir BIN ABAS, Hashim BIN JAAFAR, Hamim BIN MOHAMED YUSOF, Yusri BIN OMAR, Abdul Ghani EHRENDREICH Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm