FILIPINO DOCTOR TO CONTEST U.S. EXTRADITION

He has been accused of funding terror in the US, Middle East and Malaysia

AFILIPINO doctor accused of wiring money for a foiled jihadist plot targeting New York’s subway and Times Square rejects the allegations and has vowed to fight United States extradition, his lawyer said yesterday.

Russell Salic, 37, and two others were charged with involvement in the plan to stage the attacks in the name of the Islamic State during Ramadan last year.

On Monday, the Philippine military accused Salic of having ties with pro-IS militants that attacked Marawi, and funding terrorists in the US, Middle East and Malaysia.

His lawyer yesterday said Salic, a Muslim orthopaedic surgeon who trained at a government hospital in southern Philippines, had no connection with terrorist activities and groups.

“He even says he is mad at terrorist activities. He say in Islam, terrorism is prohibited. He is a devout Muslim. He prays five times a day,” said lawyer Dalomilang Parahiman.

Salic was accused of transferring US$423 (RM1,785) in May last year to the other suspects to help fund a thwarted operation planned through Internet messaging applications, according to the US Justice Department.

New York’s subway, Times Square and some concert venues were identified as targets in the plot that was monitored by an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation agent posing as a fellow jihadist, US authorities said.

Salic’s lawyer said his client surrendered to Filipino authorities in April, contradicting the US government’s statement that he was arrested.

Salic faces legal proceedings seeking his extradition to the US.

Parahiman: “Yes, of course he would (contest it). He’s innocent.

“They weaved stories to link the person” to the plot, he added.

The agent said FBI monitored several social media accounts believed to be Salic’s, in which the doctor posted content “supportive of ” IS, religious war and terror.

But Parahiman said Salic was not in control of his social media presence at the time, claiming that the account was hacked.

“It took him several weeks before he recovered the account.”

He said his client only gave money to unspecified individuals and a charitable group for “humanitarian considerations”. AFP