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Al-Qaeda linked to Bali
31/07/2003 08:12 - (SA)
Denpasar, Indonesia - Al-Qaeda apparently provided some of the funds transferred to the alleged controller of the Bali bombings before the attack which killed hundreds, an official of the Jemaah Islamiyah network said on Thursday.
Wan Min bin Wan Mat, 42, gave his evidence by video conference at the trial of Ali Ghufron, alias Mukhlas, who is charged with overall responsibility for the October 12 nightclub blasts which killed 202 mostly Western holidaymakers.
It was the most direct evidence so far linking al-Qaeda to the Bali bombers. Wan Min has said previously the bombers were inspired by an edict issued by al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
Wan Min, a Malaysian who is detained in Malaysia, testified from Kuala Lumpur that he gave a total of $35 500 to Mukhlas in 2002.
Calling himself "just the delivery person," Wan Min said he had no responsibility for finances and is not certain where the money originated, but he heard some of it came from al-Qaeda.
"From my conversations, contacts with ... Jemaah Islamiyah I learned that some of the sourcing for that financing is from al-Qaeda," said the bespectacled Wan Min, a former lecturer at a Malaysian technological university.
Asked by a judge whether the money came from bin Laden himself, Wan Min replied, "I'm not certain of that."
He also said he did not know who decided to release those funds.
"I'm not certain because for matters related to jihad operations, that is handled by a special party which I myself don't understand," Wan Min testified.
However, he said a man known as Hambali, whom he described as JI's former Singapore and Malaysia chief, at one point sent him a letter asking that $5 000 be transferred to Mukhlas through JI operatives in Indonesia.
Wan Min said he made one other similar transfer and earlier gave more money directly to Mukhlas in Thailand, early in 2002, after they and others fled Malaysia.
He said he did not know if the funds were put aside for "holy war" operations in Indonesia because he himself was not involved in the planning or execution of the Bali bombings or other attacks.
"It's true I didn't ask, because it was none of my business," said Wan Min, who led JI's operations in Malaysia's Johor state.
Mukhlas, 43, wearing a Muslim skull cap, took frequent notes and occasionally stroked his long beard during the testimony.
He is accused of authorising the plan to bomb Western holidaymakers in revenge for the "slaughtering" of Muslims worldwide by the United States and its allies.
Mukhlas has named one of his sons Osama and testified in a previous trial that he knows bin Laden well.
Police consider Mukhlas the key suspect of more than 30 now in custody for the bombings. He faces a possible death sentence if found guilty of the terrorism charges against him.
The trial was adjourned till August 11.
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