The United States government is offering a $5 million (P250-M) reward for information leading to the capture of a Malaysian bomber believed to be hiding in the Philippines since 2003. A statement issued late last month by the US State Department said Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice authorized the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Zulkifli bin Hir, 40, who also goes by the name of Marwan. Bin Hir is a US-trained engineer believed to be involved in several deadly bomb attacks in the Philippines.
He is said to be the leader of the
Kumpulun Mujahidin Malaysia terrorist organization, part of the Jemaah
Islamiyah central command, and a senior leader in several Southeast Asian
terrorist groups linked to the al-Qaeda. Bin Hir is believed to have been
staying with the Abu Sayyaf Group in Mindanao since August 2003 and has trained
ASG members in bomb-making. His younger brother Taufik bin Abdul Halim is
allegedly in prison in Indonesia for his involvement in the bombing of the
Jakarta Atrium mall in Jakarta in 2001. The State Department said anyone with
information on Bin Hir may contact the following: www.rewardsforjustice.net;
Hotline: 1-800-US-REWARDS (1-800-877-3927); mail: Rewards for Justice,
Washington DC 20522-0303. Informants outside the US may also contact the
Regional Security Office at the US Embassy or consulate. The US Reward for
Justice program has already paid out more than $62 million since 1984 to more
than 40 informants who helped capture terror suspects. The State Department
said informants in the Philippines have received at least $1.6 million in
reward money.
