JAD Terrorism Fund Comes from Many Countries, Police Say

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) group received money to fund their acts of terror from many countries, the police said. According to police official, JAD received fundings wired from Trinidad and Tobago, the Maldives, Venezuela, Germany and Malaysia.

Police Headquarters' chief of information bureau Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said the money was used to launch attacks in Sibolga, Sumatera Utara and the Catholic churches in the Philippines, among others. 

Dedi said the police are coordinating with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) as well as authorities of other nations to track down the sources of those funds.

JAD's finances, Dedi said, is managed by Saefullah a.k.a. Daniel a.k.a. Chaniago, who is currently on the police's most wanted list. Saifullah is an Indonesian national who is in-charge and a "mastermind" of JAD Indonesia's operations in Afghanistan.

The police said that Saefullah has with him over Rp400 million in cash, given by 12 other JAD members in five countries. The money was wired through Western Union. He also uses the money to buy weaponries and fund members to travel to Khorasan, Afghanistan.

Dedi said it is likely there are Indonesians who give their money to fund the terror acts under Saefullah's command. One man by the name Amir has been captured by Densus 88 anti-terror squad in May. He often transferred his income to finance JAD activities. 

"We are investigating the potential of Indonesian citizens acting as patrons or funders. There are people on our most wanted list who are currently here in the country and overseas," Dedi said.

ANDITA RAHMA