Case Of Two Malaysians Detained In Lebanon To Be Rementioned Wednesday

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- The case of two Malaysians detained in Lebanon on suspicion of having ties with militant group Al-Qaeda, will be rementioned at the Military Tribunal in Beirut on Wednesday.

Malaysian ambassador to Lebanon, Ilango Karuppannan said Rafik Mohd Ariffin, 28, and Mohammed Razin Shaaban, 21, were brought to the tribunal today on a charge of being terrorists, with connections to Al-Qaeda.

Nevertheless, the charge against them did not proceed when the judge found they were unrepresented, he said when contacted by Bernama at the Lebanese capital.

"The judge then ordered that they engage a lawyer to defend themselves and the judge decided that the case be rementioned on Wednesday," Ilango said.

Last week, the Lebanese authorities detained Rafik and Mohammed Razin at a hotel in Beirut because they were believed to be suicide bombers and suspected to have links to Al-Qaeda.

Ilango said no family members of Rafik or Mohammed Razin were present at the tribunal today although both families were informed by Wisma Putra on their detention and that they should engage the services of lawyers.

In the meantime, he said, two embassy officials had met Rafik and Mohammed Razin at the Army Tribunal Detention Centre in Beirut.

"They were well and healthy. They were also properly treated," he said.

Ilango said the embassy was investigating the background of the two Malaysians with the cooperation of the Lebanese Immigration to determine if they entered the country as tourists, students or professionals.

Meanwhile, Bukit Aman said based on investigations and surveillance carried out, no trace of Al-Qaeda movement has been found.

Bukit Aman Special Task Force director Datuk Mohamed Fuzi Harun said police have not received any information of Al-Qaeda presence in the country or any recruitment activity to join the group.

"We have not come across any Al-Qaeda activities but we cannot disregard such activities (recruitment) conducted by neighbouring countries," he said.

Rafik's father Mohd Ariffin Abdullah meanwhile, when contacted said he was still waiting for details with regard to his son's detention in Lebanon.

Mohammed Razin's mother Sharifah Asma said she does not know how her son was detained for his alleged involvement with Al-Qaeda.

She said her son lived in Melaka and studied in Trolak, Perak while she and her husband lived in Putrajaya.