Domestic workers during the day, terrorist financiers at night? 3 Indonesian maids charged for funding ISIS-related activities

Under the Internal Security Act (ISA), three Indonesian women were charged Wednesday (Oct 23) with funding terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the Indonesia-based group Jemaah Anshorut Daulah (JAD), which is affiliated with ISIS.

Prior to their arrests, the three women namely, Anindia Afiyantari, 33, Retno Hernayani, 36, and Turmini, 31, had been working as domestic workers in Singapore for between six and 13 years, MHA said in a press release.

In an investigation conducted by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) of the Singapore Police Force, all three women are accused of collecting and/or providing money on several occasions to individuals in Indonesia between September 2018 and July 2019.

“They had reasonable grounds to believe that these funds would be used to facilitate terrorist acts overseas,” MHA said.

Retno Hernayani collected a total of S$100 on two occasions between March 2019 and April 2019 and provided a total of S$140 on two occasions during the same period.

Between February 2019 and July 2019, Anindia Afiyantari provided a total of S$130 on five occasions.

Turmini provided a total of IDR13 million (about S$1,216) on five occasions between September 2018 and May 2019, MHA said.

If convicted, their orders of detention will be cancelled and they will serve the respective sentences imposed by the court.

The act of collecting and/or providing money in support of terrorist purposes, regardless of the amount, is a serious offence under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act, authorities said.

According to MHA, “Terrorism and its financing represent a grave threat to domestic and international security, and global action is required to deprive terrorist groups of funding and materials.”

“Singapore is part of this global effort and is strongly committed to combatting terrorism financing, regardless of whether the monies are used to facilitate terrorist acts locally or abroad.

“Members of the public are reminded not to remit money, of any amount, or provide any support through the provision of services, supplies or any material to a terrorist organisation, or for facilitating or carrying out any terrorist act.”-/TISG