Australia Deports ISIS Terror Cell Leader Suspect From Malaysia

Monica Cantilero Sunday, January 18, 2015

ISIS militant fighters parade at the Syrian town of Tel Abyad, near the border with Turkey, on Jan. 2, 2014. | REUTERS/Yaser Al-Khodor

A Malaysian man believed to be the leader of an Islamic State (ISIS) terror cell in Australia has been deported to his home country on Wednesday after he was arrested last month.

The 29-year-old unnamed former factory supervisor, accused of recruiting and sending militant Islamic fighters to Syria, worked in Australia to hide his underground activities, Malaysia's The Star Online reported.

"The authorities believe that the man was responsible for recruiting and arranging for Malaysian militants to head to Turkey and eventually Syria via Australia," said a source of the newspaper. "They were using Australia as a transit point. So far, at least five Malaysian fighters were believed to have used the designated route.

"Aside from recruiting Malaysians for the cause, the cell also offered advice to fellow fighters on routes to take to evade detection and connect them with contacts in Syria," the unnamed informant added.

The cell also provided financial assistance for Syria-bound fighters.

The Malaysian man allegedly had been running the operation since Sept. 29. The ploy, however, alerted authorities. The man was arrested by Australian immigration officers on Dec. 28.

Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division officials received the alleged ISIS recruiter at the Kuala Lumpar International Airport.

A Malaysian married couple, who is also part of the Australian terror cell, was deported and arrested by Malaysian authorities on Jan. 7.

The couple – a former factory operator in Selangor and a housewife – were said to have traveled to Australia with their 14-month-old daughter. "They uprooted and took their baby to Australia with the intention of devoting their lives to the ISIS cause," said the source.

All three suspects were detained under the Security Offenses (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said.

The Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division has now detained 54 people since February following the arrests of the three.