聽An anti terror policeman stands guard as a security sweep is conducted during Chinese New Year celebrations at a temple in Chinatown in Jakarta, Indonesia, February 16, 2018. REUTERS FILE PHOTO
JAKARTA 鈥� Indonesia鈥檚 counter-terrorism police have arrested a member of a top Islamic council on charges of raising funds for the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah (JI) group blamed for deadly bombings, police said on Wednesday.
The raid was carried out near Jakarta on Tuesday during which , a member of the Indonesian Ulema Council, was arrested along with two associates, national police spokesperson Rusdi Hartono said.
JI set up a charity organisation to get funding 鈥渇or education, social activities鈥ome of the funds are used to mobilise JI,鈥� Rusdi told a news conference, adding that Ahmad was a member of the charity鈥檚 religious board.
The organisation operated in cities on Sumatra and Java islands, including Jakarta, he said.
Indonesia is the world鈥檚 largest Muslim-majority country and a resurgence in militant attacks in recent years has been linked to hundreds of Indonesians who went to Syria and Iraq to fight for Islamic State before returning.
JI is accused of orchestrating the 2002 bombings of Bali nightclubs, which killed more than 200 people.
Ahmad was a member of the Ulema Council鈥檚 commission that issues Islamic edicts, said the body鈥檚 head Cholil Nafis. His work at the council had nothing to do with militant activities, he said.