JAKARTA , Indonesia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An Indonesian court has sentenced the alleged military commander of an al Qaeda-linked terror network to 15 years in prison . Abu Dujana is suspected of plotting attacks on the Australian Embassy and J.W. Marriott hotel in Jakarta . Abu Dujana is the alleged leader of the military wing of Jemaah Islamiyah , a group that is thought to be linked to al Qaeda . It aims to create a Muslim `` superstate '' across much of Southeast Asia . Dujana , a slight , wiry man , is accused of direct involvement in the Bali nightclub bombings of 2002 that killed more than 200 , mostly Western , tourists . He is also suspected of plotting subsequent attacks on the Australian Embassy and J.W. Marriott hotel , both in the Indonesian capital , Jakarta . Furthermore , authorities say Dujana is behind the violence in Poso , on Indonesia 's eastern Sulawesi island . Fighting between Muslims and Christians periodically breaks out in the region and sometimes turns deadly . Police have accused Jemaah Islamiyah of sending armed militants to Poso . The court found Dujana guilty Monday of illegally possessing firearms and explosives , and of harboring suspected terrorists . His lawyers said they may appeal the sentence . After his arrest last June following a four-year hunt , Dujana admitted to CNN that he was Jemaah Islamiyah 's military chief . But he said that happened only after the attacks on Western targets . He described Jemaah Islamiyah to CNN as `` an underground organization , '' saying `` it will continue to exist and continue to move on with its plans '' to create an Islamic state under Sharia law despite his capture . `` When a part of it is cut off ... there will be a replacement , it 's only natural , '' he said . Dujana denied being involved in the Marriott Hotel attack . He told CNN that he helped fugitive suspect Noordin Top plan the attack , meeting him both before and after the devastating blast that killed 12 people and injured 150 . `` It 's true , I did have a meeting with Noordin before the Marriott bombing but that does n't mean I was involved in the attack , '' he said . `` In that meeting , we 're just aligning our views with each other -- there was absolutely no discussion about planning any bombing . '' In his CNN interview , Dujana was quick with messages of hate , calling all Westerners legitimate targets because of the actions of leaders like U.S. President George W. Bush and then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair , who he says are not giving Muslims the chance to be in power . Dujana studied in Pakistan and fought in Afghanistan from 1988 to 1991 . He told CNN that he met al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan during the fight against Soviet occupation . At the time , bin Laden was a field commander and he was an ordinary soldier , he said . Dujana said bin Laden was well respected then and helped him and others realize that it was permissible to kill people to defend Islam . `` I did n't read it in the Quran , '' he said . '' It 's based on the teachings of our teachers , clerics , especially what Osama bin Laden first said . '' `` Because of America 's arrogance , many in the Muslim world know , believe , it 's permissible to kill American soldiers . It 's halal ; it 's permitted , '' he said . The court declared Jemaah Islamiyah a terrorist organization Monday and ordered it to pay 10 million rupiah -LRB- $ 1,088 -RRB- . Around the same time Dujana was captured last June , authorities also apprehended Jemaah Islamiyah 's leader , known simply as Zarkasih . A verdict on his case is expected soon . Last week , two other top Jemaah Islamiyah leaders -- Dr. Agus Purwanto and Abdur Rohim -- were brought to Indonesia following their arrest in Malaysia . Both are being investigated for their possible role in fomenting violence in Poso . Terrorism expert Sidney Jones says Abdur Rohim is believed to have replaced Zarkasih as Jemaah Islamiyah leader . `` It is another major blow to Jemaah Islamiyah , but difficult to tell what the impact will be , '' Jones told CNN via e-mail last week . `` It could embolden a more militant faction . -LSB- It -RSB- could also lead to some serious reassessment within the organization about its future . '' E-mail to a friend CNN 's Kathy Quiano contributed to this report .