A CLOSE associate of jihadist cleric Abu Bakar Bashir
has been released from an Indonesian jail, and plans to build an Islamic
boarding school.
ABU Tholut, alias Mustofa,
was granted parole from a jail in Semarang, central Java, on Tuesday
after serving two-thirds of his eight-year sentence for conspiracy to
commit terrorism.He told Indonesia's Tribunnews he wishes to first enjoy his freedom, then get to work building a pesantren (Islamic boarding school). He would design the curriculum first, then obtain the land. "I want later on, in that school, for students to get knowledge and also skills for entrepreneurship," he said. Abu Tholut was jailed in 2011 for links with a terrorist training camp in Aceh, which police found was blessed and funded by Bashir.
He publicly denounced ISIS from jail last year. Bashir was acquitted over the 2002 Bali bombings, but was jailed over his role in setting up a terror cell in Aceh. Meanwhile, the eldest son of Bali bomber Imam Samudra was last week killed while fighting for ISIS in Syria, Indonesia's National Police have confirmed. Terror analysts say Umar Jundul Haq was likely trying to preserve the legacy of his father, who organised the bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.
