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Australian Police nab another
LTTE "Tsunami" fundraiser
[Tuesday, July 10, 2007 -
7.30 GMT]
A 41-year-old Sri Lankan Tamil has
been charged with multiple terrorism charges over alleged links
with the LTTE, which has been named by many countries as a
terrorist organization.
The suspect identified as Rajeevan, is a frontline sympathizer
of the LTTE, based in Sydney. He was arrested this morning (July
10) as part of an ongoing investigation by Australian Federal
Police (AFP) into terrorism related fraud.
It is reported that among the matters investigation about him
was suspected fraud in the handling of funds raised among
Australian citizens for Tsunami relief to Sri Lanka, which had
been diverted to fund the LTTE's terrorist activities in Sri
Lanka.
He is due to appear at Sydney's Central Local Court and is
expected to be extradited to Victoria at a later date. He has
been charged with being a member of a terrorist organization,
providing support or resources to a
terrorist organization and making an asset available to a
proscribed entity.
The charges carry maximum prison terms of 10, 25 and five years
respectively, if convicted.
This is the third suspected arrested by the AFP on charges
relating fraud and the funding of a terrorist organization. The
Sydney man's arrest today follows the Melbourne court
appearances of Aruran Vinayagamoorthy, 32, of Mt Waverley, and
Sivarajah Yatahavan, 36, of Vermont South, who were denied
bail on May 8 over terrorism offences.
They allegedly used the Melbourne-based Tamil Coordination
Committee to raise funds for the Tamil Tigers under the guise of
fundraising for tsunami relief in Sri Lanka.
AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty said on Southern Cross Radio that
the joint terrorism team from Victoria Police and the AFP
arrested Rajeevan. "He was charged in connection with two
earlier arrests in May this year to do with raising money for
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the (LTTE) terrorist
group,"
"The counter-terrorism team will be seeking his extradition to
Melbourne," he added.
The charges related to fundraising after the devastating 2004
Boxing Day tsunami which crippled communities throughout
southern Asia. "This is to do
with fundraising activities that occurred after the tsunami; as
you might recall and that money was channeled into the LTTE in
Sri Lanka," Mr. Keelty
said.
The earlier persons were also charged with being members of a
terrorist organization, providing support or resources to a
terrorist organization and making funds available to a terrorist
organization.
It is alleged that the suspects bought equipment of the type
used in terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka.
The men were remanded in custody until July 24 for a committal
mention at the same court.
Meantime, the Australian Federal Police and security officials
have been put on alert following the detention of an Indian
doctor Muhammad Haneef, in Brisbane on July 02, on suspicions
regarding involvement with the foiled bomb attacks in London and
Glasgow, in the UK earlier this month.
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Last Updated
Date: July 10, 2007 - 7.30 GMT |
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