JAKARTA, Sept 5 — The Indonesian suspect arrested in Batam on Saturday in connection with an attack on Marina Bay Sands planned to work as a cleaner and night market helper in the Republic.

Riau Islands Police Chief Sam Budigusdian said that based on initial investigations, the 24-year-old suspect, whom police identified as LH, had obtained a passport with the aim of finding a job in Singapore.

Batam Pos website reported Budigusdian saying that the suspect revealed during questioning that he was offered a job in Singapore by his friend’s mother.

Budigusdian said: "Based on the questioning, (LH) said he will depart for Singapore and was offered a job to work with a cleaning service (company) and as a night market helper by his friend’s mother. He accepted the offer when he was still in Medan.”

LH was arrested on Saturday during an operation by the counterterrorism squad at a cyber cafe in Batu Aji, Batam. A cellphone, one motorcycle and a wallet were also confiscated.

The unemployed suspect was said to be part of the Batam-based KGR@Katibah GR, headed by Gigih Rahmat Dewa. The police previously said Gigih, a 31-year-old factory worker, had planned to attack Marina Bay Sands with a rocket. The attack was foiled when Gigih and five other suspects were arrested in Batam on August 5. KGR@Katibah GR is said to have links to Syria-based Islamic State (IS) militant Bahrun Naim, who has encouraged attacks in Singapore. The suspects are currently investigated at special counter-terrorism squad Densus 88’s headquarters for their involvement in Islamic State’s Indonesian terror network.

Budigusdian also said that LH confessed that the woman who hired him had also asked him to look for five other friends to work in Singapore. LH was to travel to Singapore with the help of his friend’s mother in Batam via the Batam Centre Point ferry terminal.

Terrorism is an important issue that Singapore has to cooperate closely with its neighbours on, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had said in his National Day Rally speech. Referring to the foiled attack on Marina Bay Sands, PM Lee said: "How do you know this was the only thing he was planning and he did not have other dark thoughts on how to attack Singapore? Can you be sure that every last terrorist in the group has been arrested?” — TODAY