KUKUALA LUMPUR, April 13 — The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said today that it will seek to prove that terror suspect Yazid Sufaat attempted to recruit new members for his al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group and to be jihadists in Syria.

At the start of trial of two Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) detainees – Yazid and canteen worker Muhammad Hilmi Hasim, lead prosecution counsel Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria said they will show Yazid sponsored and started the Tanzim al-Qaeda Malaysia group and held sessions in his house to recruit and “spread the ideology of terrorism”.

Yazid Sufaat was formerly detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 2001 for seven year. — File pic

“The prosecution will further adduce oral evidence, documentary evidence and audio recordings to prove that the first accused (Yazid) had held usrah (religious talks) in his house that involved discussions about jihad through combat and taking up arms that is intended to encourage the religious talk attendants to engage in jihad abroad, especially in Syria,” he told the court.

Yazid is accused of knowingly encouraging terrorist acts with the intention to promote an ideological purpose that is intended to threaten the public in Syria, while his cafeteria assistant Muhammad Hilmi was charged with abetting him in doing so.

Religious teacher Halimah Hussein, who was charged with abetting Yazid in promoting terrorist activities in Syria, is still missing after jumping bail. Her case will be heard separately from Yazid and Muhammad Hilmi’s.

All three were charged under Section 130G(a) of the Penal Code, which covers the offence of inciting and promoting the commission of a terrorist act and carries a maximum 30-year jail term and fine.

Yazid and Hilmi were also charged under Section 130KA of the Penal Code with being members of a terrorist group – Tanzim al-Qaeda Malaysia – with those convicted of this offence liable to a maximum of life imprisonment and a fine.

Yazid was formerly detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 2001 for seven years over suspected ties to the militant group Jemaah Islamiyah.

Today, DSP Thiagarajah Thangaretnam – the first prosecution witness who was formerly attached to the police force’s unit that probes terrorism – told the court that he had followed his superior’s instructions in lodging a police report on October 23, 2012 to initiate investigations on Yazid under Sosma 2012.

This afternoon, travel agency Dawood Tours and Travel Sdn Bhd’s then-manager Sabrina Beegum Mohaamad Sahafi testified that two Malaysian men by the names of Mohd Razif Mohd Ariff and Muhamad Razin Sharhan Mustafa Kamal had purchased tickets for a return flight from Kuala Lumpur to Istanbul, Turkey.

Sabrina, who is the prosecution’s second witness, said she had helped the two who were dressed casually in T-shirts and slippers to buy the round trip ticket from October 3, 2012 to December 3, 2012.

She agreed with Yazid’s lead counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad that it was not unusual for customers to insist on a particular date, also agreeing that they could have wanted to visit Turkey simply for travel.

Asked to look at Yazid and Muhammad Hilmi who were in the dock and wearing red T-shirts today, she also confirmed that she did not see the two accused during the September 29 ticket purchase by Mohd Razif.

Both the prosecution and defence did not draw any links between the two individuals to Yazid and Muhammad Hilmi’s case.

Mohd Razif and Muhamad Razin Sharhan were previously reported as being suspected suicide bombers who were arrested at Lebanon’s Beirut airport in October 2012 and subsequently charged at a military court there.

The duo was accused of being part of the Al-Qaeda group and of attempting to go to Syria to launch suicide attacks.

While reportedly admitting that he has met with Al-Qaeda members, Razif is said to have denied meeting with Yazid or aiding the militant group in recruiting members.

A representative from the US Embassy was present in court today to observe proceedings.

The trial before High Court judge Datuk Mohd Azman Husin resumes tomorrow.