Terror suspect admits possessing explosives

An Indonesian man who allegedly planned a series of bombings that killed 22 people in the Philippines nearly 16 months ago today pleaded guilty to illegal possession of explosives.

Fathur Al-Ghozi entered the plea in the southern Philippine city of General Santos, where the explosives were found earlier this year. He is believed to be a key leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah, a south east Asian-based group with suspected links to al Qaida.

The group allegedly planned to attack US military personnel and naval vessels as well as the British High Commission, the Israeli Embassy and the Australian High Commission in Singapore.

Al-Ghozi denied a separate charge of weapons possession, and his lawyer, Confesor Sansano, asked for reinvestigation of the charge.

Mr Sansano pleaded for a light sentence and an arrangement under which Al-Ghozi would serve half of the time in the Philippines, then be deported back to Indonesia to serve the rest.

Al-Ghozi, 31, was arrested in Manila’s Quiapo working-class district in January on a tip by Singapore police.

He provided information that led to the discovery of more than a ton of TNT buried in a backyard in General Santosy, about 625 miles south east of Manila, police officials said. Also found were 300 detonators, six 400-yard rolls of detonating cord and 17 M-16 assault rifles.