Exclusive: Suspected Islamic State supporter arrested in Malaysia is safety expert on VIP flights, security official says
The aviation engineer, who used to work for the Royal Malaysian Air Force, is alleged to have supported Islamic State on his Facebook account
One of 15 suspected Islamic State supporters arrested in Malaysia has been revealed as a senior aviation technician for a firm that serviced aircraft used by the nation’s corporate and political leaders.
The suspect, aged 49, is a former flight engineer for the Royal Malaysian Air Force, a regional security source told the South China Morning Post.
“The suspect is a senior technician whose responsibility was to check that an aircraft is safe for use. He is the person who gives the green light whether an aircraft is safe to take off or not,” said the security official.
Such a person would have the ability, at least in theory, to sabotage an aircraft with VVIPs on board
The aircraft maintenance company services chartered aircrafts for domestic flights for so-called “VVIPs”, a term often used to describe passengers who are corporate and political leaders. The suspect worked there for 13 years, according to the official.
He was arrested in late March along with 14 other suspects in an operation covering six states as well as the capital Kuala Lumpur.
The other 14 suspects have all been charged in court, but investigations into the aviation engineer are continuing.
“He has conducted religious classes where he propagated ISIS ideology,” said the official.