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Muhammad Jibriel Abdul Rahman, one of two suspects accused of raising funds to finance the July 17 hotel bombings in Jakarta, on Monday said he was spiritually and physically ready to face the first hearing of his trail, scheduled to open today at the South Jakarta District Court.

“I ask for prayers from Muslims, to give me strength in facing these slanderous accusations,” Jibriel said in a statement sent to Arrahmah, an organization that publishes articles in support of suicide bombings and which is led by Jibriel’s brother, M Fachry.

“God willing, the bomb-financing charges will be proven false. I advise all Islamic media to preach the word of Islam.”

He said the prosecution’s case was shaky from the start and that the charges were dubious.

“There is no balanced information in regard to my involvement. Unfortunately, media in this country relies on data from an infidel named Sidney Jones,” Jibriel said, referring to the expert on Indonesian extremism from the International Crisis Group.

Jibriel’s lawyer, Haryadi Nasution, said he was optimistic that charges his client helped fund terrorism would never be proved in court.

Police have said that Jibriel helped channel money from abroad to fund the suicide bombings at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels. A courier from the Middle East, who returned shortly after the bombings, was believed to have hand-delivered the cash to Jibriel.

Police have killed or arrested 24 people thought to have been connected to the bombings. Farouk Arnaz