MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jurors have resumed deliberating in the trial of a Minnesota man accused of helping send men to Somalia to join the al-Qaida-linked group al-Shabab.

Mahamud Said Omar is charged with five terrorism-related counts in the government’s investigation into what it says was the recruitment of more than 20 Minneapolis-area Somali men who returned to their native land to join al-Shabab since 2007. He could face life in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors say Omar bought plane tickets to Somalia for Minnesota recruits and paid for weapons for some of them.

Omar denies wrongdoing and says he has never supported al-Shabab. His attorney says the government’s case is built on the false testimony of former recruits that was only given because their plea deals required it.

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