Bali bombing militants financed by al Qaeda, court told

4.00pm

BALI, Indonesia - The al Qaeda terror network helped to fund Southeast Asia's Jemaah Islamiah militant Muslim organisation, a leading radical told an Indonesian court on Thursday, outlining the clearest link yet between the two groups.

Until now, regional governments have frequently cited links between the two organisations, but rarely provided evidence.

Appearing via teleconference from Malaysia where he is in detention, senior Jemaah Islamiah member Wan Min Wan Mat told a court hearing the trials into last October's Bali bombings that Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda was a financier of the regional network.

"From my conversations and friendship with fellow JI members, I was informed that part of the funding source was from al Qaeda," the Malaysian said.

Wan Min was giving testimony in the trial of Indonesian preacher Mukhlas, who has been charged with plotting, organising and carrying out terror crimes in connection with the Bali attacks, which killed 202 people, mainly foreign holiday makers.

Jemaah Islamiah has been accused of a campaign of terror in the region. Indonesia has blamed it for the Bali blasts. Indonesia has also accused Mukhlas of being its operations chief.

Asked if money given to Jemaah Islamiah had come directly from bin Laden himself, Wan Min said he did not know.

Wan Min also denied he was Jemaah Islamiah's treasurer.

Prosecutors, quoting Wan Min, have previously said the Bali bombings may have been inspired by bin Laden's words. The United States blames bin Laden and al Qaeda for the September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.

Wan Min, a former university lecturer, was arrested in Malaysia last September.

More than 30 Indonesian militants have been arrested for the Bali bombings, with several key suspects already on trial.

The first verdict, that of Amrozi, a younger brother of Mukhlas, will be announced on August 7. Prosecutors have demanded he be executed. A third, youngest brother, Ali Imron, is also on trial.

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Bali bomb blast