Singapore Permanent Resident Charged With Financing Gaza Attacks
Authorities say small PayPal transfers tied to online radicalisation demonstrate that Singapore will prosecute terror financing regardless of amount.
Overview
- A 23-year-old Myanmar national who is a Singapore permanent resident was charged Wednesday and told the court he would not plead guilty, with his case adjourned for a pre-trial conference in August.
- Singapore’s Internal Security Department opened the probe after the man’s extremist social media posts drew attention and the Commercial Affairs Department verified cross-border PayPal transfers.
- Investigators say the accused sent US$72.28 in August 2024 and attempted a further US$1 to PayPal accounts specified by an overseas X user who claimed to be raising money to buy military equipment for attacks in Gaza.
- The ministry says the man was radicalised online, first adopting anti-Muslim views in 2024 and later anti-Jewish views in early 2025, and that he posted material endorsing violence against targeted groups.
- Authorities charged him under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act 2002, which allows fines up to S$500,000 and up to 10 years’ jail, and warned the public not to remit funds or support solicitations on social platforms.