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