S’porean, 17, arrested under ISA out on 2-year Restriction Order

SINGAPORE — The 17-year-old boy arrested last month under the Internal Security Act has been released from custody, but has been placed on a Restriction Order for two years, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said yesterday.

The unnamed youth must abide by conditions of the Restriction Order, which the MHA said provides a balance between rehabilitation and preservation of public security. He has to attend religious counselling and stop accessing violent or extremist material online. He is not allowed to issue public statements, and will not be allowed to leave the country without permission.

Further measures will be taken if he breaches conditions of the Restriction Order, or if such measures are deemed necessary to protect public security, said the MHA.

The youth was being investigated on the extent of his radicalisation, and the MHA said yesterday that he was radicalised after viewing videos, websites and social media materials propagated by “radical ideologues and terrorist elements”. He had wanted to engage in armed violence alongside the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and had started preparing to carry out his plans, the ministry said.

The youth was one of two arrested in recent months under the ISA. In April, 19-year-old M Arifil Azim Putra Norja’i, the first known self-radicalised Singaporean to harbour the intention to carry out violent attacks here, was detained.

Arifil had actively looked up travel routes to Syria on the Internet and ways to make improvised explosive devices. He had planned to carry out attacks in public places in Singapore as well as kill the Prime Minister and President if he was unable to join the ISIS in Syria.

Anyone who knows or suspects that someone they know is radicalised may call the Internal Security Department’s Counter-Terrorism Centre hotline at 1800 2626 473.

Separately, a new helpline to counter the threat of self-radicalisation here will begin operating tomorrow. The Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) helpline (1800 774 7747) will be manned by the group’s counsellors and operate from 9am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays.

Members of the public may call to alert on those they feel are in danger of being self-radicalised. They may also seek clarity on extremist ideology and get advice on aspects of Islam, instead of turning to non-credible Internet sources.

Speaking at the official launch of the helpline yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean said: “If help is sought early, we can save individuals and help guide them away from the wrong path, before they become radicalised to the extent that they harm themselves and others.”

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Masagos Zulkifli, and RRG co-chairmen Ustaz Ali Haji Mohamed and Ustaz Mohammad Hasbi Hassan were also at the launch, which was held at the Iftar, or breaking fast, session in Khadijah Mosque in Geylang.

Two other measures were announced by the RRG earlier this month: Short religious talks before weekly Friday prayers and a manual for its counsellors refuting the Islamic State’s ideology. NEO CHAI CHIN AND LOUISA TANG