On Monday, The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that the Singaporean teen M Arifil Azim Putra Norja'i who was arrested under the Internal Security Act in May has been released from custody and is under a Restriction Order (RO) under the ISA for two years from June.
Investigations revealed that the 17 year old had become radicalised after viewing videos, websites and social media materials spread by extremists ideologues and terrorist persons. MHA said: "He had wanted to engage in armed violence alongside the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and had started making preparations to carry out his plans".
Under the RO, the youth has to attend religious counselling and stop accessing violent or extremist online material. He is not allowed to leave Singapore without permission or issue public statements. If he breaches the conditions of the RO or is assessed that further measures are needed to protect the public, further measures will be taken against him.
MHA believes that Arifil's "release on an RO, with conditions attached, provides a balance between rehabilitation and preserving public security."
MHA reiterated that family members, friends, colleagues and members of the public have an important role to play in protecting fellow Singaporeans from radicalisation and terrorism. It is urging people to call the ISD Counter-Terrorism Centre hotline 1800-2626-473, if someone they know appears to be radicalised. "This could save such individuals and allow them to be helped and counselled, so that they are prevented from engaging in violent activities that may cause harm to themselves and others," MHA said.
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