Gov't convinced S'pore has solid proof to arrest 'terrorists'
(AFP) - The government is convinced that Singapore has concrete evidence to warrant the arrest of 15 alleged terrorists, including a Malaysian, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albad said today.
"We are convinced that the Singapore government has sufficient intelligence and other information before making arrest," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .
"We are convinced that the Singapore government has sufficient intelligence and other information before making arrest," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Syed Hamid said he had been informed by Singapore about the arrest of the Malaysian citizen, Faiz Abu Bakar Bafana, 39, and was awaiting further developments.
He said the government had repeatedly reminded Malaysian citizens going abroad not to break the laws of foreign countries.
"Offenders will have to face the laws of that country and the government cannot do much to help ... except to gather information on the actual situation," he added.
Clandestine organisation
Singapore's home affairs ministry yesterday said police had detained 14 Singaporeans and a Malaysian for alleged involvement in terrorist activities, including procuring materials for making bombs and surveillance of potential targets.
Thirteen of them are allegedly "cell members" of a clandestine organisation called Jemaah Islamiah, with several of them receiving training under terror suspect Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, the ministry said.
The remaining two have not been confirmed as members, while some members of the group are believed to have fled the country. The 15 are held under Singapore's Internal Security Act which allows detention without trial.
On the possibility of members of the group fleeing to Malaysia, Syed Hamid said both countries were constantly cooperating and exchanging information.
"Such people fleeing from Singapore shall be intercepted and not allowed to slip through. We are able to track them down and shall act accordingly," he added.
The Singaporean announcement came after Malaysian police Friday said they had arrested 13 men belonging to a group with links to Zacarias Moussaoui, a Frenchman facing charges in the United States in connection with the Sept 11 attacks on New York and Washington.
