Police have identified the Malaysian who received RM110,300 which was banked into his account from a terror fund

Published: Sunday September 21, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Sunday September 21, 2014 MYT 11:58:05 AM

thestar

bY MAZWIN NIK ANIS AND FARIK ZOLKEPLI

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

 

TUMPAT: Police have identified the Malaysian who received RM110,300 which was banked into his account via Australia’s Bisotel Rieh Global Money Transfer.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said police were pursuing the individual.

“Yes, we now know who this person is but I am not at liberty to name him. Let the police handle the case,” he told The Star.

Zahid said the person would be dealt with severely if found to have received funds for any terrorist-linked activities.

“Those involved will face the brunt of the law. There will be no compromise on our part,” he added.“We must not allow transactions to fund illegal activities, including to finance terrorism.

The Australian newspaper had reported that the country’s police were investigating Bisotel Rieh Global Money Transfer over A$9mil (RM27mil) in missing funds, some of which might have been used to finance Australians fighting with the Islamic State (IS).

It was later revealed that the company had also transferred RM110,300 to an unnamed individual in Malaysia.

It is learnt that the police are narrowing down the possible recipients of the money tran­­sfer and have identified a few possible targets.

“They are waiting for further information and feedback from their Australian counterparts before moving in,” said one source.

It is also learnt that police have also received a preliminary report from Australia.

“The information is being pieced together by Bukit Aman. It’s only a matter of time before the culprit is detained,” said the source.

While it may be a coincidence, the younger sibling of Khaled Sharrouf, an Australian fighting with the Islamic State, was reportedly in Malaysia for some time.

“Police have information that Khaled’s younger sibling was in the country. The person was monitored closely after Khaled was identified as an Australian fighting for IS,” the source said.