The Solomon Islands Muslim League has clarified its association with Australian, Bassam Tiba.
38 year old Bassam Tiba was arrested at the Honiara International Airport on Tuesday by the Solomon Islands Police detectives after arriving in a flight from Port Vila, Vanuatu.The man was alleged to have committed murder in Victoria, Australia in 2004.
The Solomon Islands Muslim League's Secretary, Mr. Sam Mahfouz, told SIBC News that Tiba is not a member of their league, stating that the league only knew of him when they seeked for donations overseas on behalf of the Solomon Islands Muslims.
"Our relationship with this person is a relationship over the Internet and the phone. About six months ago he sent some photos of the Solomon Island Muslim communities and descriptions of their circumstance, their finances and also a list of their needs to establish a small prayer place, which is called a mosque."
Mr. Mahfouz stated that Mr. Tiba had travelled to Honiara to check on the progress of the work being done on the mosque, which he had contributed some money towards.
Mr. Tiba appeared in the Honiara Magistrate court yesterday and has been remanded in custody for the next 14 days. He will be extradited to face trial in Australia when all his paper work is done in the Solomon Islands.