The SIM cards were used to set up social media accounts in what is the first case of its kind in the UK. For over a year the alleged IT specialist activated the cards in Britain before making them available to ISIS members in Iraq and Syria.
Rabar Mala, 32, an Iraqi Kurd, allegedly provided 437 cards and phone numbers to ISIS as a handy platform to promote their propaganda online. Prosecutor Kathryn Selby said: “This defendant is charged with an offence that has never been charged in this jurisdiction previously. Essentially the defendant had over 400 SIM cards were found at a property when police officers went into his home address.”
Selby explained that Mala had been busy linking up terrorists for a while. “Of a period of offending was at least a year, he was activating those SIM cards, he activated those cards in this country.
“They were then passed to individuals based in Iraq and Syria to enable them to set up accounts on social media to enable them to publish material said to be supportive of IS, or Daesh.”
He allegedly activated the SIM cards between January 2016 and August 2017. The court heard how the SIM cards allowed jihadists linked to the Islamic State to open Twitter and Facebook accounts to target new recruits.
Mala arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court wearing a grey prison jumper and tracksuit bottoms, but he denied possessing property linked to terrorism.
Selby also revealed that Mala was an illegal immigrant. She described him as “an illegal overstayer” who had actually been turned down when he applied for leave to remain in Britain in 2008. Mala worked as a car valeter.
He was arrested after terrorism officers executed warrants at addresses in Warrington Sunday on August 20. Police teams stormed two properties in a counter-terrorism operation earlier this month following an investigation by the North West Counter Terrorism Unit.
Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram remanded him in custody and the case will be heard at the crown court. “I send this case to the Central Criminal Court,” he said. Mala, who resides in Gough Avenue, Warrington, denied possession of property for purposes of terrorism under Section 16 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Detectives however spent days searching the properties, located in close proximity of each other in the north of the town. Police say Mala is not currently linked to the Manchester Arena attack.