Man nabbed for helping Indonesians join Daesh in Syria

By Ainur Rohmah

TUBAN, Indonesia (AA) – Indonesian anti-terror personnel have arrested a man suspected of helping people seeking to join Daesh travel to Syria.

National Police spokesman Inspector Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said Abu Fauzan was arrested during a raid Wednesday morning in Bekasi in West Java province on charges of facilitating the departure of Indonesian citizens to Syria.

"He has successfully dispatched citizens at least four times in the last two years," Amar was quoted by detik.com as telling reporters in Jakarta.

He said Fauzan is accused of motivating others to travel to the war-torn country, preparing departures and instructing them on how to lie to police if caught.

Fauzan is being charged under the Terrorism Act and faces a penalty of up to 20 years in jail.

"Not only those who execute terror acts, but those who plan, cooperate, and help in carrying out terror can be subjected to the terrorism law," Amar underlined.

Fauzan’s arrest comes days after police nabbed seven Indonesians suspected of attempting to board flights to Syria with the intention of joining the extremist group.

Of the seven arrested Thursday, only three were named as suspects -- one of whom was accused of being a funder -- while the rest were determined to be “witnesses”.

"Initially seven people [arrested], but only three of them named as potential suspects allegedly planning terrorism," Amar said Wednesday, added that police had acted based off information from intelligence officials.

Indonesia has been on alert against extremist activities over the past year, further heightening security measures after a January attack in Jakarta killed eight people, including four Daesh-affiliated assailants.