FBI says imam has links to terrorism

TACOMA — An FBI agent on Friday revealed in testimony that a Seattle mosque leader facing deportation on immigration charges is also the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation into whether he diverted funds from his mosque to political and terrorist groups.

Agent David Rubincam testified in the immigration case against Abrahim Sheikh Mohamed that officials believe Mohamed was smuggled into the U.S. through Mexico to help raise money for the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), which wants an independent state for ethnic Somalis in Ethiopia.

Mohamed, 39, an imam and leader in Seattle's Somali community, has been in federal custody since his arrest in November. Rubincam's testimony came at the immigration court in the Northwest Detention Center during the third day of a hearing on whether Mohamed should be released.

Rubincam testified that a confidential source told the FBI in 2003 about questionable financial dealings at the mosque — that money to rebuild the mosque was being diverted overseas to the ONLF and to an organization called AIAI, Somalia's largest militant Islamic organization. Rubincam said the FBI put Mohamed under surveillance that year.

Hilary Han, attorney for Mohamed, said that because the government's case is built on confidential sources, Mohamed has been unable to question his accusers. Han also questioned how the government could have gathered information from 100 Somali community members, as it claims to have done, without the use of translators.

In the immigration case, federal officials say Mohamed lied to obtain legal asylum status after his arrival in the U.S. in 2000, falsely claiming to belong to the persecuted minority Tumal clan. Rubincam testified on Friday that sources have told the FBI Mohamed belongs to the dominant Ogaden clan.

In court earlier this week, Peter Coleman, a convicted felon who has been a government witness in other federal cases, said Mohamed allowed several young men from his mosque to participate in jihadist, or terroristlike, training. While not directly involved in the effort, Mohamed was spiritual leader to those who were, Coleman testified.

In testimony Friday, Coleman said he first contacted the FBI after observing violent activity involving some mosque members and that he agreed to wear a wire to gather information for the FBI.

Under questioning from Han, Coleman admitted that he took $153,000 from the FBI for living expenses over the past three years.

Many throughout Seattle's Somali community say they don't believe the allegations against Mohamed, whom they describe as a positive and supportive force in the community. Dozens have kept vigil for him, and on Thursday about 200 held a protest rally outside the Abu Bakr on Martin Luther King Jr. Way South.