One of the nine men alleged to be responsible for a spate of robberies to finance a "holy war", has been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), his wife told malaysiakini today.

"A DSP Ridhuan called me last Wednesday telling me that my husband had been arrested under the ISA, but he gave no reason," said Zaharah Saad, wife of Mohd Sobri Abu Hassan.

"The police officer also told me to write a letter so that I could visit my husband," she said.

Zaharah added the police told her that Sobri, who was arrested on May 29, was detained to "assist investigations".

The police are empowered under Section 73 of the ISA to detain suspects for not more than 60 days, while the Home Affairs minister, presently Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, could sign a detention order calling for a two-year detention thereafter.

In a press conference on June 7, police chief Norian Mai told reporters that the 'Jihad nine' were responsible for a series of robberies to finance their efforts to create a purist Islamic society through a holy war.

He also revealed that the suspects were also involved in the killing of Lunas state assemblyman Joe Fernandez and for the bombings of a church and a Hindu temple, as well as an attack on the Guar Chempedak police station in Kedah.

Norian said the suspects had been influenced by foreign separatist groups and was confident of arresting more.

On May 18, an attempted robbery was foiled when a Southern Bank security guard shot three robbery suspects, killing one and injuring the others. The fourth escaped, but was later caught and led police to a cache of arms and explosives in a jungle in Puchong Jaya.

Sobri and five other group members were arrested later.

Last Friday, three of the nine suspects, Zainan Harith, A Rasid Ismail and Adnan Mohd Daud were charged with committing offences under the Firearms Act which carries the death penalty.

Militant attempt

Meanwhile, Home Minister Abdullah today defended the ISA, which allows detention without trial. He said that because of the existence of such laws, the country is peaceful.

In a police dragnet in April, 10 reformasi activists were detained for being involved in a "militant attempt" to overthrow the government

Those arrested were Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, party youth chief Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, supreme council member Saari Sungib, youth leaders N Gobalakrishnan, Dr Badrul Amin Bahrom, Lokman Nor Adam, Abdul Ghani Haroon, social activist-cum- malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais, FreeAnwar Campaign webmaster Raja Petra Kamaruddin (Freeanwar.com) and human rights activist Badaruddin Ismail.

Six of them - Chua, Ezam, Saari, Hishamuddin, Badrul and Lokman - have since been served two-year detention orders and sent to the Kamunting detention camp, while Gobalakrishnan and Abdul Ghani were set free by a court order and Raja Petra and Badaruddin were released unconditionally by the police.