Indonesia: Australian man suspected of providing funds to send Indonesian nationals to Syria
Indonesian authorities suspect an Australian man is raising funds to support Indonesian nationals to join the Islamic State in Syria. Further reports have revealed that the man is married to a woman who is from Java but is presently staying in Australia.
An amount of AU$500,000 has been transferred from bank accounts in Australia to at least 10 bank accounts in Indonesia, according to Agus Santoso, deputy chair of Intrac, the financial intelligence body of Indonesia.
"That man collected money from many people in Australia. Then he sent it to his wife's account in Indonesia," Santoso told the ABC News on Monday. "So this Indonesian woman was used to open some bank accounts which we suspect have links with terrorism suspects. What is surprising is that the kingpin is not an immigrant. In my opinion he is native Australian, not an immigrant. I mean, he is white."
The transactions have been tracked since 2012 by the Intrac which has claimed that some of these accounts are still active. Santoso said he strongly suspects the funds were being used to support terrorism and to send Indonesian people to Syria and in the process strengthen the organisation’s network in Indonesia.
"It only costs $250 to make a bomb," he said. "And of course they also want to have pool funding, reserve funding, so they can do more activities."
Santoso also revealed that the money has been collected through fundraising in Australia. Some of the accounts have been opened by his wife while some by the other members of his network.
However, Santoso refused to provide any further information on the Australian man or his wife and their whereabouts in Australia, according to the ABC. Reportedly, around 80 people have returned to their homeland Indonesia and are under strict monitoring by police and intelligence bodies.
A recent Indonesian propaganda video clip showed Indonesian men and teenagers are undergoing indoctrination and combative training.
Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.
