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Indonesian terror suspect faces new charges

A ton of explosives was found in al-Ghozi's house

MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- Philippine prosecutors plan to file two new charges against a man suspected of links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network.

Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, an Indonesian arrested for illegal possession of firearms and explosives in southern General Santos City last month, will also be charged for holding two fake passports, Justice Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee told CNN.

Al-Ghozi was seized only days after more than a dozen suspected terrorists were arrested in Singapore for an alleged plot to bomb U.S. installations in the city-state.

A ton of explosives was found in the house al-Ghozi rented in General Santos City during the arrest.

The explosives were allegedly to be shipped to Singapore via Indonesia for the anti-U.S. attacks.

"He claimed to be Filipino and was found holding two passports with his picture and with different names," Teehanke said.

Al-Ghozi faces "six to 12 years in prison" for the passports charge if convicted, Teehankee added.

Confession

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Teehankee also denied reports that the government has dropped the firearms and explosives charge against Al-Ghozi because of lack of evidence.

"The case is ongoing before the General Santos City court," Teehankee said.

He added that reporters may have confused the case in General Santos with another arrest involving al-Ghozi's possession of timing devices apparently for bombs.

Investigators still have to gather enough evidence on this case before filing the proper charge, Teehankee said.

Al-Ghozi has confessed to being a member of the Indonesian Islamic group Jemaah Islamiya, which is suspected of links to al-Qaeda, Philippine investigators said.

They added that he has also admitted to a role in the December 30, 2000 bomb blast on board a commuter train in Manila, which killed 12 people and injured about a hundred.

Indonesian embassy information officer Triyogo Jatmiko told CNN that Indonesian intelligence officials are coordinating with local police to pin down Al-Ghozi in court and ferret out other terrorist cells in the country.