Dicky Christanto – The police said they had evidence to charge firebrand cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir with funding and promoting terrorist activities in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

Ba'asyir is alleged to have used US$5,000 from unidentified donors to help establish a paramilitary camp in the once restive province.

"Ba'asyir and supporter Dulmatin gave money to Yudi Zulfahri to start the camp. Ba'asyir had the camp's training exercises recorded, and later used the video as a promotional tool to attract other donors," an officer with the National Police's Detachment 88 antiterror squad, who declined to be identified, said Monday.

Dulmatin was shot dead in March during a police raid in Pamulang, South Tangerang, following a series of raids in Aceh which left four police officers dead.

Ba'asyir is suspected of gathering another Rp 800 million (US$88,800) from other donors to fund additional militant training, the police official said. "Ubeid was among those [suspects] who have confirmed Ba'asyir's role," he said.

Ubeid is one of 102 people being detained for questioning about their involvement with the Aceh paramilitary training camp.

The police have long suspected that Ba'asyir has been involved in Indonesian terrorist activities, and acknowledge that he is seen as an inspirational figure by some convicted terrorists. The police previously faced difficulties arresting Ba'asyir because they often failed to present solid evidence linking the cleric with terrorist activities.

One of Ba'asyir lawyers, Mahendradatta, denied the cleric had ever received funds prior to the establishment of the military camp, and accused the police of fabricating evidence against his client.

"Ba'asyir has never been given money. He doesn't even carry it. Ba'asyir does not need money to support his life. When he is in need of rice, he is given rice by those who care for him," Mahendradatta said. Ba'asyir was arrested last week on his way home from providing sermons to local Koran recital groups in Banjar Patroman, Ciamis, West Java.

He was initially stopped by traffic police and later escorted by police officers from the counterterrorism detachment to the National Police headquarters, where he was placed in police custody for a seven-day preliminary interrogation period.

The Antiterror Law stipulates that a potential suspect may be questioned for a week before police name him a terrorist suspect.

"Ba'asyir has been named a suspect and would be detained for the next four months for further questioning," National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Iskandar Hasan said.