Singapore man on trial for terrorism financing admits to sending money to Isis

Imran Kassim, 36, opted to go on trial instead of pleading guilty, saying he does not recognise Singapore laws, only sharia [Islamic] law

He said he sent US$330 to Islamic State to protest ‘Singapore’s participation in the war against Isis’

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A general view of Singapore, where a local man has gone on trial for terrorism financing. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:01am, 14 Jan 2020Updated: 4:54am, 14 Jan 2020

The first Singaporean to be charged with terrorism financing began his trial in a district court on Monday by admitting to giving S$450 (US$330) to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis), but claimed trial for his actions because he did not recognise Singapore law.

Imran Kassim, a 36-year-old former managing director of logistics firm Novo Logistics, faces one charge under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act.

He is accused of remitting the money on October 31, 2014, through Western Union to a man in Turkey, known as Mohamad Alsaied Almidan, to publish Isis propaganda.

Imran’s trial in open court is the first of its kind in Singapore. Another Singaporean was jailed last year, after a closed-door hearing, for giving more than S$1,000 (US$740) to a Jamaican preacher who had been imprisoned for stirring racial hatred.

Imran Kassim pledged his allegiance to Isis chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (above), who died in October. Photo: AFP

Imran will return to court on Tuesday for District Judge Seah Chi-Ling’s verdict. If convicted of the offence of providing property and services for terrorist purposes, he could be jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to S$500,000 (US$370,000) or both.