Singapore convicts 4 Bangladeshis for funding terrorism

Singapore, July 12: A Singapore court on Tuesday convicted four Bangladeshi workers for fincing terrorism and sentenced them to jail terms varying between two to five years. The four — Rahman Mizanur, 31, Miah Rubel, 26, Md Jabath Kysar Haje Norul Islam Sowdagar, 31, and Sohel Hawlader Ismail Hawlader, 29 — were detained in April under the Interl Security Act (ISA), the Straits Times reported. Rahman was sentenced to 60 months in jail. Sohel was given 24 months while Miah and Jabath each got 30 months. All the sentences will be retrospective with effect from May 27, the day they first appeared in court. Earlier, they were charged with providing or collecting money to fund terrorist acts in Bangladesh. They pleaded guilty on May 31. Asking for deterrent sentences, the prosecution pointed out that the accused men have caused public disquiet and were funding IS, “one of the most dangerous terrorist organisations in the world”. The four Bangladeshis were part of a group of six charged under the Terrorism (Suppression of Fincing) 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 retrial. The court documents showed that the men had clearly denied all charges. (IANS)