Judge nixes bail for Budiman

Judge nixes bail for Budiman

UNITED STATES: A U.S. judge ruled on Friday that an Indonesian man, whom a prosecutor described as having "direct and troubling ties" to the Sept. 11 hijackers, must remain in jail until his trial on unrelated fraud charges.

Chief U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton said Agus Budiman presented a risk of flight. He said authorities were looking into whether Budiman had any involvement with the hijackings of planes that hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

An FBI agent has testified that Budiman, 31, knew suspected hijackers Mohamed Atta and Zaid Samir Jarrah. While living in Hamburg, Budiman also knew Ramzi Binalshibh, a fugitive wanted by Germany for his role in the hijackings.

Prosecutor John Morton said Budiman had "direct and troubling ties to the Sept. 11 hijackers." He said Jarrah and Binalshibh put Budiman's name down as the U.S. point of contact on their visa applications seeking to enter the United States.

Budiman is charged with helping another man, Mohammad Bin Nasser Belfas, who lives in Germany, obtain a false Virginia driver's license. -- Reuters