Charity donations collected in Australia used 'to fund terrorism activities'
Charity donations collected in Australia have been secretly transferred to Indonesia to allegedly train terrorists and support their families.
Officials in Jakarta working with the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) captured $500,000 collected by one fundraiser alone.
"It's a grave concern that funds of around half a million dollars have been sent to fund terrorism activities in Indonesia,” ACNC Commissioner Susan Pascoe said.
Between 2010 and 2015 authorities identified 45 money transfers, totaling five billion rupiah ($500,000 AUD) in donations, which they say were being used to fund terrorists and their families.
An Australian man identified only as 'L' raised the money here to be used to buy weapons, fund paramilitary training and support the families of slain extremists.
The Indonesian Government has identified 1,300 foundations, which it says receive money for the purpose of funding terror.
The government says some of this newly-seized money donated by Australians went to Indonesian cleric Abu Jibril, a former recruiter for Jamaah Islamiyah.
Jibril’s son died fighting for Islamic State in Syria.
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) says donors can check if a charity is legitimate.
"To help donors make informed choices we've established a free, online, searchable register at acnc.gov.au,” Commissioner Pascoe said.
AUSTRAC says it is monitoring more than 100 people suspected of funding terrorism.
