Farouk Arnaz, Candra Malik & Camelia Pasandaran, Jakarta – One of three members of an Islamist group led by hard-line cleric Abu Bakar Bashir arrested by police in May testified to Bashir's involvement in funding a paramilitary cell uncovered in Aceh, a police source told the Jakarta Globe on Tuesday.

The source identified the member as Haris Amir Falah, who heads the Jakarta chapter of Bashir's Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid. Bashir was arrested Monday on suspicion of funding terrorism.

Haris is one of three members of JAT who were among 14 suspects arrested in several locations, including the JAT's Jakarta office, on May 6. Eleven of them were eventually released, while the remaining three, including Haris, were charged with helping fund the armed group in Aceh.

"Haris admitted that Bashir not only knew, but facilitated in the fund-raising for the paramilitary group in Aceh. Bashir himself saw that video of the paramilitary training, and he used that video to raise funds," the source within the Densus 88 anti-terror squad told the Globe.

The source was referring to a video posted on a number of jihadist Web sites which depicts a training camp in Aceh. "The video used to raise funds was made even before February, when training was being conducted by just a handful of people in Aceh's forests."

An armed group was discovered in February conducting paramilitary training in an isolated forest in Aceh. The group has since been outlawed and some 100 of its members have been either captured or killed in clashes with the police.

The source said that it was that video which convinced Bashir to raise funds through a string of local businesspeople. "At that time only a handful of people were involved in the training, including Abu Tholut, a.k.a Mustofa, the fugitive, and Dulmatin," the source said.

Suspected terrorist Dulmatin was gunned down in a police raid in March on the outskirts of Jakarta.

When asked whether one suspect was enough to prove guilt in court in regard to terrorism funding, the source said: "There are other suspects who know of [Bashir's involvement] including Ubaid, alias Lutfi Haidaroh, whom we have arrested. Others have also told us detailed descriptions of Bashir's involvement. Our evidence is solid to jail Bashir."

Police on Monday said that Bashir's involvement included establishing the paramilitary base in Aceh and appointing operational leaders.

Bashir's arrest came two days after Densus 88 officers arrested five people believed to be from the Aceh group in four raids in West Java. Police said they were planning to attack the headquarters of the Mobile Brigade unit in West Java, as well as hotels and embassies in the capital.

Kurnia Widodo, who was arrested in Bandung, was identified by police as a chemical engineering student. On Monday, an official from the Bandung Institute of Technology confirmed that Kurnia was a graduate of the institute.

Hasanudin Zaenal Abidin, the institute's deputy rector for information and communication, told the Globe that Kurnia graduated from the institute's School of Chemical Engineering in 2000.

"He was not an outstanding student. Lecturers don't remember him personally," Hasanudin said, adding that the courses Kurnia took had nothing to do with the manufacture of bombs.

Separately, Abdurrahman, general secretary of JAT, said that Kurnia had been a driver for Bashir. "He was assigned as a substitute driver for Bashir. He performed his tasks obediently."

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Tuesday terrorist threats remained in Indonesia. "I hope that these threats will not make us feel down during celebrations of Independence Day. The important thing is that security must be heightened. The state cannot be beaten by crimes."