| A convicted militant told a court Thursday that he was a top member of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) but said that he had never seen cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, 65, the alleged leader of the Southeast Asian terror group. "This is the first time I've ever seen him," said Hutomo, alias Abu Faruk, as he pointed at the elderly, white-bearded cleric. Hutomo, who is serving a three-year sentence for harboring militants, described himself a regional leader of JI. He was the first of six witnesses scheduled to testify in Ba'asyir's trial Thursday. Others include the brother of alleged Southeast Asia terror kingpin, Hambali, or Riduan Hisamuddin. Last week, a militant said Ba'asyir appeared at a southern Philippine terrorist training camp in 2000. But he said Ba'asyir did not incite militants to attack Western targets or take part in any violence. Five other witnesses, so far, have failed to link Ba'asyir to any crimes. |