A former Malaysian army captain believed to have been the leader of an al-Qaida program to develop chemical and biological weapons was a graduate of California State University, Sacramento, who briefly attended Humboldt State University.

The Times-Standard has learned that Yazid Sufaat attended HSU in the winter and spring terms of 1983. Lori Hall, public information officer at CSU Sacramento, said Sufaat attended that school between 1983 and 1987 and transferred there with 18 units from HSU. No other information was available about Sufaat's tenure at HSU.

The Associated Press has reported that Sufaat has been cooperating with authorities since his arrest Dec. 9, 2001. The AP said he was arrested in Malaysia when he returned from apparently serving in a Taliban medical brigade in Afghanistan.

News reports say Sufaat graduated from California State University, Sacramento, in 1987. He had received a bachelor's degree in biological sciences, concentrating on clinical laboratory technology, with a minor in chemistry, according to PHXnews.com of Phoenix, Ariz.

According to PHXnews.com, Zacarias Moussaoui, who is on trial in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and the Pentagon, was alleged to have received his money from Sufaat, under the cover of a company managed by his wife and named Infocus Tech, an importer of U.S. computer software and hardware.

The AP reported Jan. 28 from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur that Malaysia has extended Sufaat's imprisonment for two more years, saying he has more information about terrorist operations.