Noordin Top's 'courier' detained in M'sia

Malaysia has detained an Indonesian militant suspect thought to have been a courier for Noordin Mohammad Top, the late bombmaker of terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, a report said Wednesday.

The Star reported that Fadli Sadama, 27, was arrested on Oct 13, quoting an unnamed regional counter-terrorism source.

He is accused of involvement in a bank robbery and attempting to smuggle weapons.

Fadli was reportedly involved in an August heist of US$40,000 (RM139 million) from a bank in the Indonesian city of Medan, according to the paper.

It said Fadli was arrested while travelling to Johor on a bus in possession of two revolvers, believed bought from Sungai Golok at Kelantan-Thai border.

The report said Fadli was planning to use the weapons to attack an Indonesian prison holding Toni Togar, believed to be the mastermind of the Medan bank robbery.

Noordin, Asia’s most wanted terrorist, was killed by a crack Indonesian anti-terrorism squad during a shoot-out in a village in Central Java in September last year.

The 41-year-old Malaysian, who had eluded the authorities for nine years, was gunned down along with three others in an ambush at his hideout in Solo.

He was said to be responsible for a string of deadly bombings in Indonesia, including those in Bali in 2002 and two luxury hotels in Jakarta recently.

The Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar, meanwhile, said the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) will continue to cooperate with Indonesian police in investigating the arrest Fadli.

Ismail Omar said PDRM were always in touch with its Indonesia counterpart for new leads and information to check terorrism.

Asked whether Fadli was acting alone or with accomplice, the IGP said the PDRM were still investigating adding he was being detained in the city.

It is understood that PDRM need some time to gather information from Fadli on his involvement in terrorist activiites.

- Agencies