16.7.2008
Australian
Federal Police (AFP) have arrested, at the request of
the FBI, a director of a Melbourne business college believed
to be linked to the Tigers over alleged terrorism offences
in the US.
Thulasitharan
Santhirarajah, 34, is expected to face extradition proceedings
after his arrest on Monday when AFP agents raided homes
and businesses around Melbourne, including the office
of his Melbourne International College.
The
raids were conducted at the request of the FBI, which
has been cracking down on the fundraising activities in
the US of members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
A
spokesman for federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland
yesterday confirmed the US had requested that Santhirarajah
be detained.
"The
man is wanted to face prosecution for alleged terrorism
offences in the United States of America," the spokesman
said. "As this is an ongoing law enforcement matter,
it would be inappropriate to comment on the specifics
of the case."
Santhirarajah
appeared briefly in a Melbourne Magistrates court on Monday
and was remanded in custody until next month.
As
well as the city office of the college, AFP agents raided
five properties and businesses in Narre Warren, Dandenong
and Lysterfield.
It
is understood police questioned some colleagues and business
partners of Santhirarajah, but later released them.
Staff
at the college yesterday refused to comment on the raids
or Santhirarajah's arrest.
Neighbours
of Santhirarajah in Narre Warren said they had noticed
unusual activity in their street for some time. Diana
Taylor said that in recent weeks she had seen people setting
up what she thought was undercover surveillance.
Last
year in unrelated proceedings, the FBI's Joint Terrorism
Task Force in New York arrested the alleged US director
of the Tigers.
At
the time, the FBI accused Australia's Tamil community
of helping fund terrorist attacks by the Tamil Tigers
in Sri Lanka.
Two
Melbourne men, allegedly linked to the Tigers, are awaiting
trial over unrelated alleged terrorism-related offences.
They were charged in 2006 with being members of a terrorist
organisation, making funds available to a terrorist organisation
and making an asset available to a proscribed entity.
Courtesy - The
Australian