5 JI terror members released

FIVE Singaporeans detained under the Internal Security Act for involvement in the Jemaah Islamiah terror group have been released.

A Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) statement on Monday said the five had been cooperative in investigations and had shown progress in rehabilitation, including religious counselling.

They 'were assessed to no longer pose a security threat that required detention', the statement said.

All of them are now out on Restriction Orders, which regulate their movements and activities.

They are regularly supervised, have to attend counselling, and need approval before changing jobs or going abroad.

Three of the five were released on March 28 this year, after two years in detention.

The three are brothers Muhamad Ismail Anuwarul, Abdul Rashid Anwarul and Abdul Nassir Anwarul.

All were members of the Malaysian JI network and were previously detained in Malaysia.

They were arrested upon their deportation here, and detained under the ISA in March 2006.

The ISA allows for detention without trial for up to two years, but detentions are extended when detainees are assessed as continuing to be a security threat.

At the time of their arrest, Muhamad Ismail was 46, Abdul Nassir was 44, and Abdul Rashid was 34.

Abdul Nassir and Muhamad Ismail had undergone military training in Mindanao and Afghanistan, respectively, the ministry said then.

Another two detainees, Ab Wahab Ahmad and Sanin Riffin, were released on Sunday.

Both men had been detained since September 2002, and were among the second group of 18 detainees held that year.

At the time, Ab Wahab was 42 and a delivery man, while Sanin was 40 and a driver.

They were detained for their involvement in JI plans to bomb strategic targets in Singapore.

With the latest releases, the number left in detention is 23.

The total number on Restriction Orders is 41.

Terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna said the releases demonstrate that Singapore's detainee rehabilitation programme is working, with the Government working closely with Muslim community leaders to rehabilitate misguided individuals.

Those released are 'remorseful and repentant' of their membership in a violent organisation, said the head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

'Those who are out are still under review and anyone who breaches the guidelines will be brought back. But the rate of recidivism has been exceptionally low,' he said.