Kota Kinabalu: An alleged Abu Sayyaf member wanted for kidnapping by the Philippines and released from a Malaysian prison for a suspected attack plot on the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur was arrested at the Manila airport upon arrival from the neighbouring country Thursday.
Hajar Binadbul Mubin alias "Abu Asrie", "Mheiradz", "Muadz", and "Muhadz", 30, a native of Bubuan Island in Basilan, was allegedly an Abu Sayyaf member under Furuji Indama, the group's slain leader in the province.
In a statement Friday, Southern Police District (SPD) director Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg said his operatives arrested Mubin, who has been wanted for kidnapping since 2012 and has a standing arrest warrant issued by a Zamboanga court on non-bailable kidnapping charges.
He is also alleged to have been involved in four gunfights with the Philippine military, which he denied.
Mubin left the group in 2015 and fled to Sabah, Malaysia, a short boat trip away from southern Philippines, before securing a fake identification document and making a Facebook account under the name of "Mhieradz Zhiadqie IV” to get in touch with his former Abu Sayyaf comrades.
In August 2017, the Malaysian police raided Mubin's house in Kuala Lumpur and arrested him together with seven other Filipinos for terrorism-related suspected offences.
The Malaysian police had accused him and the others of plotting an attack on the closing ceremony of the Southeast Asian Games and independence day celebration in the Malaysian capital.
The Malaysian police had also said some of the Filipinos worked as security guards with private companies in Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas.
Mubin was due for release on Aug. 30, 2021 from the Tapah Prison in Perak but the facility was placed under strict movement restrictions to curb Covid-19 then, delaying his release.
Mubin has been placed under the SPD's temporary custody for disposition pending a commitment order from the Zamboanga court.
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