S'pore PR, 23, allegedly helped finance terrorist acts in Gaza, to be charged in court

A 23-year-old Singapore permanent resident and Myanmar national will be charged in court on Jul. 29 after he allegedly transferred money to facilitate terrorist acts in Gaza.

The Internal Security Department (ISD) initiated investigations against the accused after his extremist postings came to the authorities' attention, according to a Jul. 28 Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) press release.

Radicalised

Based on ISD's investigations, the accused was radicalised after consuming extremist content online.

He developed a strong hatred towards Muslims in 2024 after being exposed to Islamophobic content online in the wake of Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attacks against Israel.

The man began to subscribe to an extremist interpretation of Zionism, and believed that the killing of Palestinian Muslims was justified.

By early 2025, the accused had also developed a strong hatred towards Jews after he consumed far-right extremist and anti-Semitic narratives on social media.

He began posting online, expressing support for the use of violence against Jews and Muslims, as well as other groups typically targeted by far-right extremists.

These included immigrants to Europe and the LGBT community.

Transferred money

ISD's investigations revealed that in August 2024, the accused transferred funds to an overseas-based user with whom he was in contact on the platform "X".

The user claimed to be soliciting donations online to purchase military equipment, apparently to facilitate a terrorist act in Gaza City.

The act was aimed at eradicating all Palestinians, including civilians.

In the light of potential terrorism financing offences, ISD referred the accused to the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) for investigations.

A parallel investigation by the CAD found that the accused transferred US$72.28 (S$93.45), and attempted to transfer an additional US$1 (S$1.29), to PayPal accounts designated by the "X" user, to facilitate terrorist acts in Gaza City.

Serious offence

MHA said that providing money in support of terrorist purposes — "regardless of the amount" — is a serious offence under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act 2002.

It is punishable with a fine not exceeding S$500,000, a jail term not exceeding 10 years, or both.

Terrorism and terrorist financing are grave threats to domestic and international security, and global action is required to deprive terrorist groups of funding and materials, MHA said.

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

MHA said: "We do not condone and will take firm action against individuals using Singapore as a base to conduct or support terrorist activities, whether locally or overseas.

"Likewise, we will not hesitate to take firm action against anyone who supports, promotes, undertakes, or makes preparations for armed violence, regardless of how they rationalise such ideologies or where the violence takes place."

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.

Anyone with information on such activities should inform the authorities promptly.