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KUALA LUMPUR - TWO Malaysian brothers have been charged in the United States for being involved in terrorism activities organised by Jemaah Islamiah (JI).
FBI agents arrested 43-year-old Rahmat Abdhir outside his office in Sunnyvale, California, on Thursday morning, the federal authorities said.
He is accused of supplying weapons and cash to his brother Zulkifli Abdhir, 41, whom US officials believe is a leading JI figure behind a series of deadly bombings last year in the Philippines, where he is now thought to be operating.
Rahmat is a computer engineer who works on US government agency contracts and has been identified in some news reports as Sean Kasem.
A 16-count indictment, issued on Thursday, prompted his arrest on charges that he aided terrorists. Also named in the indictment was his Malaysian brother.
US Attorney-General for National Security Kenneth Wainstein said: 'With (the) arrest and indictment, we have closed off a channel by which an American citizen was allegedly funding and supplying a fugitive designated terrorist with two-way radios and other materials for his operations overseas.'
Zulkifli, a US-trained Malaysian engineer, was already on the State Department's most-wanted list, labelled as a 'specially designated global terrorist' with a US$5 million (S$7.5 million) bounty for his capture.
Prosecutors said Zulkifli provided regular reports to his brother of battles between Philippine troops and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a group with alleged ties to the JI.
Federal prosecutors said the brothers e-mailed each other in code in a scheme to have Rahmat send his Philippine-based brother weapons, cash, two-way radios and other equipment.
According to the San Jose Mercury News, Rahmat also helped his brother avoid capture by sending him warnings, news stories of his bloody exploits and even a 'care package' filled with chocolate, underwear, a rifle scope and ammunition.
The brothers' code included using the words 'presents' and 'prizes' for improvised explosive devices, while 'dogs' referred to government agents and 'iron' meant guns, according to the indictment.
In the 12 months from June last year, Rahmat is accused of sending his brother Colt .45 magazines, a rifle scope, camouflage gear and more than US$10,000, according to the indictment.
If convicted on all counts, Rahmat faces a maximum of life in prison, while Zulkifli faces a maximum of 30 years.
Responding to the indictments, which was reported in Malaysia's Star newspaper yesterday, Kuala Lumpur said it would cooperate with Washington in its investigations.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the arrest and indictments did not mean the US is linking Malaysia with terrorism.
'Do not jump to conclusions about the arrest. The allegations do not link Malaysia with terrorism,' he said.
hazlinh@sph.com.sg
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM REUTERS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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