TWO Singaporeans involved with the terrorist network Jemaah Islamiah (JI) have been released.
A statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) yesterday said that the two men had been cooperative in investigations and shown significant progress in their rehabilitation. They were "assessed to no longer pose a security threat that required preventive detention", the statement said.
The two are Mohamed Ellias Mohamed Khan and Ja'afar Mistooki, who were both arrested in December 2001 and detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for their involvement in the terror group's plans to mount attacks against several targets here.
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.
They were released on Jan 5 this year.
Another man, Faisel Abdullah Abdat, who was on a Restriction Order which regulates his movement and activities, has also seen the order against him lapse.
The MHA statement said that the order on Faisel expired on Feb 8 and was not renewed. He had been detained in February 2003 for providing material support to an Al-Qaeda collaborator and was subsequently released.
The statement said: "As Faisel had been cooperative in investigations and responded to rehabilitation, he was assessed to no longer require supervision under a Restriction Order."
Last year, five Singaporeans who were detained for their involvement with the JI were released between March and September after they were deemed to no longer pose a security threat.
Among them were three brothers who 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 since March 2006.
