KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Proof or the lack of it is holding back police from
arresting the Malaysians who return after fighting for the Islamic State of
Iraq and Syria (Isis) militant group, a senior intelligence source said.
"These Malaysians have not been picked up immediately
because the burden of proof lies with the police, not the suspects," he
told The Malaysian Insider in Kuala Lumpur.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said
although some Malaysians had posted pictures of themselves on social media,
these had to be proven as genuine.
"If the Malaysian militant had posted an image of
himself wielding an automatic rifle in the Middle East on Instagram or
Facebook, police have to verify the image.
"First, was the image really taken in the Middle East?
Is the image authentic and genuine? Witnesses are also required to verify if
the suspect was really in the Middle East."
The official said that under the Security Offences (Special
Measures) Act 2012, there were a number of boxes which police needed to tick.
"Getting statements from sources in the Middle East to
confirm that a Malaysian citizen was there fighting alongside Isis forces is insufficient,"
the official said.
"Police must build a strong case before a Malaysian
suspect who fought alongside Isis forces in the Middle East can be charged in
court here.
"True, there may be numerous pictures and images posted
on social media of Malaysians fighting in the Middle East but who is going to
authenticate the images?"
It was recently reported that at least five Isis militants
had returned and that police had arrested three of them. The official said of
the three arrested, two had been charged in court last week.
Source: The Malaysian Insider...More...
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