SINGAPORE: The managing director of a dormitory operator was fined S$7,000 (US$5,400) by a court on Tuesday (Oct 28) over an event he organised, where a preacher with purported terror links gave a sermon expressing ill-will against those who did not share his political and religious ideals to about 600 foreign workers.
Abdus Sattar, a 51-year-old Singaporean, pleaded guilty to one charge each under the Public Order Act and Public Entertainments Act for organising a public assembly to promote the faith of Islam without a permit and for providing public entertainment without a licence. A third charge was taken into consideration.
The court heard that Sattar was the managing director of SBM Electrical & Automation, which operated the foreign worker dormitory Lantana Lodge at Tech Park Crescent.
In July 2024, Sattar sent a text to his acquaintance, Bangladeshi national Amir Hamza who is an extremist Islamic preacher who has been reported to be involved with a pro-Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation operating in Bangladesh, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Sheldon Lim.
Amir Hamza was arrested by the Bangladeshi government in 2021 for his purported terror links, for terrorism-related activities and for inciting militancy, Mr Lim said.
Sattar told Amir Hamza that he was organising a National Day celebration at Lantana Lodge and invited Amir Hamza to come to Singapore to give a sermon and conduct a prayer session for his company and its workers.
Amir Hamza agreed to attend and Sattar made arrangements for him to travel to Singapore, along with Bangladeshi national Ullah Mohammed Neamat, who was to sing Islamic songs at the event.
To promote the event, a digital poster was made that included pictures of Amir Hamza and Ullah, advertising the prayer session on Aug 9, 2024 at Lantana Lodge. The poster, which was approved by Sattar, stated that the event was open to all residents in Singapore.
Sattar demarcated a large outdoor space within the compound of Lantana Lodge for the event. Access to the lodge was not controlled and there were no security guards working on that day as it was a public holiday.
On Aug 9, 2024, Ullah sang to the attendees on stage without a licence to provide public entertainment.
From about 8.15pm to about 10.30pm, Amir Hamza conducted a prayer session and gave a sermon lasting at least 28 minutes.
