4 Bangladeshis jailed in Singapore for financing terrorism

A Singapore court has sentenced four Bangladeshi workers to two to five years' imprisonment for financing terrorism.

The four are: Rahman Mizanur, 31; Miah Rubel, 26; Md Jabath Kysar Haje Norul Islam Sowdagar, 31; and Sohel Hawlader Ismail Hawlader, 29. They had pleaded guilty to their crimes on May 31, reports The Straits Times.

They were earlier charged with providing or collecting money to fund terrorist acts in Bangladesh.

They were detained in April under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

All the sentences will be backdated to May 27, the day the men first appeared in court.

READ MORE: 4 Bangladeshis convicted in Singapore

Asking for deterrent sentences, the prosecution pointed out that the accused men have caused public disquiet and were funding one of the most dangerous terrorist organizations in the world: ISIS.

It had asked for five years (60 months) for Rahman, two-and-half-year (30 months) for Miah and Jabath, and two years (24 months) for Sohel.

The four were part of a group of six charged under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act (TSOFA) - the first time the Act has been used for prosecution.

The other two - Zzaman Daulat, 34 and Mamun Leakot Ali, 29 - have denied the charges and are claiming trial.

Court documents had shown that the men had clearly defined roles. They were led by Rahman, with Mamun as the group's deputy leader.

Miah was in the group's financial council, while Jabath handled the group's media.

Zzaman and Sohel were in the group's security and fighter councils respectively.

Miah and Jabath were also accused of possessing money for terrorist purposes.

Court documents also showed that Jabath was in possession of $1,360 - this includes a sum of $1,060 that he was handed by Miah last month.

In all, the six had contributed sums of $60 to $500 to the cause.

The six were among eight men arrested between late March and early April this year. Working in the marine and construction industries, they called themselves the Islamic State in Bangladesh (ISB).

They were planning attacks back home in hopes of toppling their government.

Their goal was to set up an Islamic state in Bangladesh and bring it under the self-declared caliphate of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

BANGLADESH NOT YET INFORMED

Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore is not officially informed of the jail sentence against four Bangladeshi workers for financing terrorism.

Ayesha Siddiqua Shelley, Labour Counsellor, told The Daily Star over phone that they did not deal with the issue rather the workers were prosecuted under the Singaporean's law.

"We knew the matter from newspaper. We were neither informed by Singaporean authorities nor did we try for this. Actually, our government shows zero tolerance in this issue," she said.

Asked about the fates of rest others, the counsellor said they are still in prison.