US slaps sanctions on Indonesia based terrorist leaders

The United States on Thursday slapped sanctions on three leaders of an Indonesia-based terror outfit Jemmah Anshorut Tauhid, as it officially branded the group as a foreign terrorist organisation.

These individuals are acting Emir Mochammad Achwan; JAT spokesperson Son Hadi bin Muhadjir; and JAT leader Abdul Rosyid Ridho Ba'asyir, who is involved in recruiting and fundraising activities.

JAT is an Indonesia-based terrorist group responsible for multiple coordinated attacks that have resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians, police and military personnel in Indonesia, the Treasury said.

"By designating the leaders of Jemmah Anshorut Tauhid, OFAC is taking another step to ensure that terrorists are cut off from the international financial system and find it ever more difficult to carry out their acts of violence, no matter where they are based," said Adam Szubin, Director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

As a result of Thursday's action, all property in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons in which Mochammad Achwan, Son Hadi bin Muhadjir and Abdul Rosyid Ridho Ba'asyir have an interest is blocked, and US persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

The founder and leader of JAT is Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who is also the co-founder of Jemaah Islamiya (JI), the Southeast Asia-based designated terrorist network with links to Al Qaida. Since 2002, more than 20 JI terrorists, including Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, have been slapped with sanctions by the US.