ABC AUSTRALIA, 15/12/2003 23:01:47
JI commander says he was appointed by Bashir
A regional commander of the South East Asian terrorist network, Jemaah Islamiah,
has told a court in Indonesia that jailed Muslim cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir, appointed
him to his post.
Nasir Abbas says he was sworn in as JI's regional chief overseeing the Malaysian
state of Sabah, the southern Philippines and North Sulawesi in Indonesia.
Bashir was recently cleared of allegations that he was the terrorist network's leader,
but he remains in jail on lesser charges.
Abbas, who was arrested in April in Indonesia, was testifying in the trial of Abu
Rusdan, who prosecutors say took over as JI's caretaker leader in April 2002.
Rusdan is accused of failing to report top Bali bomber, Mukhlas, to the authorities.
JI is blamed for a string of terror attacks across South East Asia, including the
October 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people, and the bombing of Jakarta's
Marriott Hotel in August, which claimed 12 lives.
15/12/2003 23:01:47 | ABC Radio Australia News
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
