DPA/Kuala Lumpur
Malaysian authorities have identified a man who received large sums of money from an Australia-based business suspected to have links with terrorist groups, a news report said yesterday.
Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said police were searching for man who received about $34,000 worth of funds sent by Bisotel Rieh Global Money Transfer, according to the Star newspaper.
“Yes, we now know who this person is but I am not at liberty to name him,” the Star quoted Ahmad Zahid as saying. “Those involved will face the brunt of the law. There will be no compromise on our part.”
The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre suspended the license of Bisotel Rieh Pty Ltd, last week for violating the country’s money transfer laws.
The company, owned by the sister and brother-in-law of Islamic State activist Khaled Sharrouf, allegedly understated a transfer of 21mn Australian dollars and did not identify its recipients, the centre said.
Australia arrested 15 people last week in the biggest counter-terrorism operation against individuals and groups with ties to militant groups. Nearly 100 Malaysians have joined various rebel groups fighting in the Middle East, according to a Malaysian police source.
Authorities were also investigating reports that at least three Malaysian women had joined the rebels to providing sexual services.
