Mantiki-Network , Medan, Indonesia | Wed, 09/02/2009 1:12 PM | Headlines

Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri confirmed Tuesday that Mohamad Jibril collaborated with Ali Muhammad in funding the July 17 hotel bombings.

However, he declined to elaborate on the collaboration to prevent it from disrupting the ongoing police investigation of the case

"Normally speaking, these people must have had some sort of relationship. But we will go into details later," he told journalists Tuesday.

Arrested last week, Jibril is being detained at the Mobile Brigade's detention house in Kelapa Dua, South Jakarta. He was arrested over allegations that he had played a role as a courier who was tasked to find sponsors to finance acts of terror.

Jibril, who had joined the Al Ghuroba study group during his three-year period of schooling in Pakistan, was suspected to have used his international links to seek funds to finance terrorism for the terrorist group under Noordin M. Top with regard to the recent hotel bombings in Jakarta.

According to the Pakistan intelligence agency, the Al Ghuroba study group was known to have connections with Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network and the Pakistan government has already banned the group.

Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Nanan Soekarna said Jibril had been accused of violating multiple laws, such as the law on anti-terrorism, immigration laws and the Criminal Code at the same time.

"He is likely to face multiple charges as there is proof that he possessed a counterfeit passport. Early indications show that he is linked to the terror funding," Nanan said.

Jibril's lawyers were not available to comment on the charges.

As well as Jibril, the police detained a Saudi Arabian by the name of Ali Muhammad bin Abdulah alias Al Khalil Ali on similar charges. Ali was arrested in Kuningan, West Java several weeks ago.

The police are pursuing several other Middle Eastern individuals accused of committing similar acts to Ali.

To date, the police have named 11 suspects in the bombings. They are Ibrohim alias Boim; Air Setiawan; Eko Joko Sarjono; Dani Dwi Permana; Nana Ichwan Maulana; Amir Abdillah; Aris Sutanto; Hendra Arif Hermawan; Mohamad Jibril alias Muhammad Jibriel Abdul Rahman alias Mohamad Ricky Ardhan; Ali Muhammad bin Abdullah alias Al Khalil Ali; and the most-wanted terrorist leader Noordin M. Top.

The first five suspects are dead while the rest have been jailed, awaiting trial.

As well as those who have been named suspects, the police are hunting for several others, including Syaifuddin Zuhri bin Djaelani Irsyad, Bagus Budi Pranoto alias Urwah, Ari Sudarso and Muhammad Syahrir, who are still at large.

Muhammad Syahrir and Syaifuddin Zuhri bin Djaelani Irsyad are Ibrohim's brothers-in-law. Syahrir used to work as an aircraft technician supervisor at Garuda Airways while Syaifuddin is known as a radical cleric specializing in recruiting potential suicide bombers.

With regard to Syahrir, the police chief said he had asked for further assistance from military commanders because the police had found out that Syahrir had managed to build up networks within the aircraft industry.

The Indonesian Military's involvement in counterterrorism has been ordered by the President in line with the expansion of perceived terror targets from American interests to the President and vital state assets.