A Sydney financial planner linked to Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels sent over USD 500,000 raised here for tsunami relief to the outlawed outfit, a court here was told.
A Melbourne court heard on last Wednesday that 40-year-old Arumugal Rajeevan was signatory to a bank account set up by a Melbourne-based organisation, the Tamil Co-ordinating Committee, through which money was funnelled to Sri Lanka.
Prosecutor Mark Dean told magistrate Gerard Lethbridge on Wednesday that a photograph of Rajeevan posing with LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran had been seized in the accused man’s home after a police raid, ‘The Australian’ newspaper reported on Thursday.
Rajeevan had accounting qualifications and was "closely involved" in the channelling of funds raised from Melbourne-based Tamils to the LTTE in Sri Lanka, Dean said.
"The defendant through the activities of the Tamil Co-ordinating Committee has been involved in the collection and distribution of funds to the LTTE," Dean said.
"During the relevant period, he can be actively connected to approximately USD 600,000 in cash being registered through that account" he said.
Rajeevan, an alleged member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, is the third Australian charged with terror offences linked to the Sri Lankan conflict.
Rajeevan faces charges of being a member of a terrorist organisation, intentionally making funds available to a terrorist organisation, and making an asset available to a proscribed organisation.
He was not required to enter a plea on Wednesday.
Rajeevan’s arrest follows that of his two co-accused, Aruran Vinayagamoorthy, 32, and Sivarajah Yatahavan, 36, in May. The two men were charged with providing financial and material support to the LTTE on the pretext of raising funds for tsunami relief.
The arrests came after two years of surveillance by the Australian Federal Police monitoring Tamil activities in Australia.
Rajeevan’s court appearance followed his extradition from Sydney, where he was arrested on Tuesday. His lawyer, Sam Norton, said his client would apply for bail next week.
The arrest has sparked anger among Sri Lankan Tamils in Australia, who argue that the LTTE is fighting a legitimate struggle for power on behalf of an oppressed racial group.
The three men will face a joint committal hearing to begin on September 10.
A Melbourne court heard on last Wednesday that 40-year-old Arumugal Rajeevan was signatory to a bank account set up by a Melbourne-based organisation, the Tamil Co-ordinating Committee, through which money was funnelled to Sri Lanka.
Prosecutor Mark Dean told magistrate Gerard Lethbridge on Wednesday that a photograph of Rajeevan posing with LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran had been seized in the accused man’s home after a police raid, ‘The Australian’ newspaper reported on Thursday.
Rajeevan had accounting qualifications and was "closely involved" in the channelling of funds raised from Melbourne-based Tamils to the LTTE in Sri Lanka, Dean said.
"The defendant through the activities of the Tamil Co-ordinating Committee has been involved in the collection and distribution of funds to the LTTE," Dean said.
"During the relevant period, he can be actively connected to approximately USD 600,000 in cash being registered through that account" he said.
Rajeevan, an alleged member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, is the third Australian charged with terror offences linked to the Sri Lankan conflict.
Rajeevan faces charges of being a member of a terrorist organisation, intentionally making funds available to a terrorist organisation, and making an asset available to a proscribed organisation.
He was not required to enter a plea on Wednesday.
Rajeevan’s arrest follows that of his two co-accused, Aruran Vinayagamoorthy, 32, and Sivarajah Yatahavan, 36, in May. The two men were charged with providing financial and material support to the LTTE on the pretext of raising funds for tsunami relief.
The arrests came after two years of surveillance by the Australian Federal Police monitoring Tamil activities in Australia.
Rajeevan’s court appearance followed his extradition from Sydney, where he was arrested on Tuesday. His lawyer, Sam Norton, said his client would apply for bail next week.
The arrest has sparked anger among Sri Lankan Tamils in Australia, who argue that the LTTE is fighting a legitimate struggle for power on behalf of an oppressed racial group.
The three men will face a joint committal hearing to begin on September 10.
