The Jakarta Post, 5/24/2004 12:17:40 PM
Terror suspect says Abu Bakar Ba'asyir was in charge of JI in
Southeast Asia
PERTH, Australia (AP): A British-born terror suspect told Australian federal police that
Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir was in charge of Southeast Asian terror group
Jamaah Islamiyah, a court heard on Monday.
Jack Roche, who is on trial here for plotting to blow up the Israeli Embassy in
Canberra, told Australian Federal Police that Ba'asyir, who currently is in detention in
Indonesia, was in charge of Jamaah Islamiyah. Ba'asyir previously has denied
theallegation.
"Ultimately, he's the one who makes decisions regarding the structure of JI in
Southeast Asia," Roche said in interviews with police, excerpts of which were read in
Perth District Court on Monday.
Ba'asyir, 66, was re-arrested in April on the day he finished serving an 18-month
prison term for minor immigration offenses.
Police in Indonesia say they have new evidence to prove he is the leader of Jamaah
Islamiyah. They said the cleric approved a string of terror attacks that included the
Bali bombings in 2002 which killed 202 people.
Ba'asyir has always denied being the leader of Jamaah Islamiyah, and says he has
no links to terrorism.
Roche, 50, from Hull in northern England has pleaded innocent in the Canberra terror
plot. He faces a maximum 25-year sentence if convicted of plotting to blow up the
Israeli embassy. The bombing was never carried out.
Last week, prosecutors said he discussed the plot with senior al-Qaeda and Jamaah
Islamiyah operatives.
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|
