Al-Ghozi admits role in Manila bombing, denies bin Laden link
Al-Ghozi admits role in Manila bombing, denies bin Laden link
Reuters, Manila
An Indonesian man who confessed to bombing Manila airport in 2000 told Philippine prosecutors on Wednesday that he was a member of a radical religious group with reach across Southeast Asia, but denied knowing Osama bin Laden.
Fathur Rohman Al-Ghozi appeared at the Department of Justice to answer charges of murder and attempted murder arising from a series of bombings in Manila in December 200O which killed 22 people and injured more than 100.
"Jemaah Islamiah," the slim, bearded, 31-year-old said when asked by a panel of prosecutors which organization he belonged to.
He said he knew bin Laden "only by name" and did not know if the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) group had links with other organizations around the world.
Al-Ghozi did not elaborate on JI's activities but said in sworn statements he gave police last month the group believed in waging Jihad (holy war) and in setting up "an Islamic state similar to Prophet Mohammad used to do".
The JI is a clandestine organisation suspected of possible links with bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network, prime suspects in the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.
Singapore has detained 12 of its citizens and one Malaysian for allegedly plotting to bomb U.S. targets in the city state, while Malaysia has arrested dozens of suspects.
Both countries say the detainees have links to al-Qaeda.
Al-Ghozi was in handcuffs and guarded by two soldiers armed with assault rifles when he appeared before prosecutors.
"Remove his handcuffs. He will not run...He is not carrying a grenade," prosecutor Peter Ong ordered the guards as the Indonesian sat down before the prosecution panel.
Al-Ghozi was arrested in Manila in January after a tip-off from Singapore authorities.
Since his detention, Al-Ghozi has executed four different affidavits, the latest on Feb. 16 in which he recanted on some of his previous statements.
In his Feb. 16 statement, Al-Ghozi said: "The truth is that I was the one who planned the bombings which occurred on December 30, 2000 in Metro Manila in which many people were killed and injured and property destroyed."
Shown by prosecutors a copy of his statement, Al-Ghozi admitted it was his signature which appeared on the documents but when asked if he understood its contents he said, through an Indonesian interpreter: "In general, but not in detail."
On questioning, he said he was only involved in the bombing of the Manila airport, in which six people were injured, and not in the other bombings in the Philippine capital.
He said he and at least four other people, believed to be still at large, were involved in planning the attacks but that he told them he would like it done "if possible in areas where there are no people."
The 2000 bombings were planned by the group to avenge military attacks ordered by then president Joseph Estrada against Moro rebel bases on southern Mindanao island, in which many civilians were affected, he said.