SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man has been charged with inviting a foreign religious speaker with purported terror links to preach at a migrant worker dormitory in Tuas.
Abdus Sattar, 51, was charged on Thursday (27 March) with multiple offences, including organising a public assembly without a police permit.
According to a joint statement by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Sattar allegedly arranged for Bangladeshi national Amir Hamza to speak at the event on 9 August 2024.
Hamza had previously been arrested by Bangladeshi authorities for alleged terrorism-related activities and inciting militancy.
Authorities stated that the gathering at Lantana Lodge was organised to promote the Islamic faith.
Sattar, a director at SBM Electrical & Automation, facilitated Hamza’s travel, provided logistical support, and conducted outreach efforts to promote the event.
However, he did not apply for a Miscellaneous Work Pass for Hamza, a requirement for foreign religious speakers in Singapore.
Extremist content in sermon
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Hamza’s sermon on 9 August propagated “extremist and segregationist teachings that were dangerous and detrimental to Singapore’s communal harmony.”
He left Singapore the following day.
Investigations into the event’s organiser, attendees, and Hamza’s activities were ongoing at the time.
Authorities confirmed that Sattar had also invited another Bangladeshi national, Ullah Mohammed Neamat, to the gathering.
Court documents state that Ullah performed songs for the crowd, despite Sattar lacking a public entertainment licence.
Sattar now faces additional charges for providing public entertainment without a permit and abetting a foreigner to act as a religious speaker without a valid work pass.
Legal consequences
If convicted of organising a public assembly without a permit, Sattar could be fined up to S$5,000 (US$3,700).
For providing public entertainment without a licence, he may face a fine of up to S$20,000.
Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, he could also be fined up to S$20,000, jailed for up to two years, or both.
SBM Electrical & Automation, the dormitory operator, has also been charged for failing to maintain proper records of individuals entering the premises.
Dormitory operators are required to keep such records for at least a year.
Violating these conditions carries a fine of up to S$50,000, up to one year’s imprisonment, or both.
Shanmugam confirms Amir Hamza’s visa photo submitted, cites gaps in watchlist cross-checks
During a parliamentary sitting on 9 September 2024, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam addressed concerns about Hamza’s entry into Singapore.
He confirmed that a photograph had been submitted with Hamza’s visa application, but explained that the effectiveness of screening depends on the quality of submitted photographs and the available watchlist data.
Shanmugam responded to a question from Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh, clarifying that not all individuals on security watchlists have photographs on file.
He said, “No country in the world has a complete set of data on all potential persons who might have to be excluded. Sometimes, we only have names without photographs.”
He added that while Singapore’s screening systems are highly advanced, they are not foolproof.
Security measures include pre-arrival risk assessments, biometric systems, and watchlist screenings. Despite these, a small number of individuals may still enter undetected.
Hamza, despite being on the Internal Security Department’s (ISD) watchlist for promoting religious intolerance, entered Singapore using a different passport name that was not flagged.
As it was his first visit, his biometrics were not on record, allowing him to bypass security checks.
Shanmugam assured Parliament that Hamza’s biometric data is now recorded, meaning he would be detected if he attempted to re-enter Singapore.
He acknowledged that while around 2,500 individuals are denied entry each month, the system is not infallible.
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