Terrorist Indictments Announced in California

The United States Department of Justice announced today that a 16-count indictment was issued against fugitive terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir, who is believe to be in the Phillippines. Zulkifli Abdhir's brother, Rahmat Abdhir, a U.S. Citizen who also goes by the name Sean Kasem, was arrested by FBI agents in Sunnyvale Calif for providing material aid to terrorists and for making false statements.

According to a Department of Justice press release, Zulkifli Abdhir was designated as a Specially Designate Global Terrorists in September 2003. He was added to the State Department's most wanted list in March 2007. The Department is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture. Abdhir is believe to have been involved in multiple bomb attacks in the Phillipines.

The indictment details charges against Abdhir, including communications between the brothers that detailed battles between Zulkifli Abdhir and Phillipine troops after a ceasefire between the Phillipine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The indictment also alleges that Rahmat Abdhir sent money, backpacks, two-way radios and knives. Money was sent using false names and addresses. More than $10,000 was sent between June 2006 and June 2007.

"With today's 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," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Kenneth L. Wainstein.

"This indictment is the product of the extraordinary efforts that FBI, ICE, CBP and their federal, state and local partners have made to assure that the country is protected from future terrorist acts and that individuals who sympathize with terrorists in other parts of the world do not find comfort in the United States. I appreciate the investigative efforts of the FBI and ICE, and the prosecutorial efforts and expertise provided by the Department's National Security Division," said U.S. Attorney Scott N. Schools, one of the officials who announced the indictments and arrest this morning. Others involved in the announcment were Wainstein, Josehph Billy, Jr., FBI Assistant Director for Counterterrorism; and Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement .

The penalties for the charges range from eight years for Rahmat Abdhir's false statements to 20 years per count for contributing goods and services to a Specially Designated Terrorist. Providing material support to a terrorist is punishable by 15 years in prison.

Source : US DOJ Press Release (http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2007/August/07_nsd_578.html)