Group that bombed elevated train system 'was paid to do so'

An Indonesian national has told investigators his group, the Jama'ah Islamiyah, gave three Filipino Muslims $5,000 -the money they required to bomb the elevated train system in Manila on December 31.

Fathur Rohman Al Ghozi, who was arrested by immigration officials recently for possessing multiple fake passports, named the three men - Hadji Onos, also known as Muklis, a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and a certain Pax and Salman.

Al Ghozi, in a January 19 affidavit, said he met Muklis in Marowi City in November 2000, because he wanted to buy explosives in Cebu City.

"(Instead) he (Muklis) asked for financial support (for a plan to attack Metro Manila with bombing activities). Our boss Fais (Bin Abu Bakar Bafana) approved of the plan because of our campaign (for war) in the Philippines."

A first instalment of $3,800 was withdrawn from an automated teller machine in Cebu City in November, while $1,200 was handed over to Muklis in Manila a few weeks before the bomb attacks.