A member of an Al Qaeda-linked group in the Philippines -- whom U.S. authorities have been trying to track down for the past decade -- showed up in a federal courtroom in Washington earlier today.

Nearly nine years ago, in November 2000, a grand jury in Washington indicted Madhatta Haipe for allegedly orchestrating the kidnapping five years earlier of four Americans and 12 others from "a recreational area utilized for swimming, hiking and picknicking" in the Philippines, according to the indictment.

After taking the group hostage, Haipe allegedly demanded a ransom and threatened to kill all the hostages if any of them attempted to escape. Over time, several hostages were released in an effort to "obtain and facilitate ransom payments," according to the indictment. By the end of 1995, all the hostages were released -- and Haipe and his co-conspirators had allegedly collected a total of $57,000 in ransom money.

One law enforcement official told Fox News that Haipe -- formerly a Professor of Islamic Studies at Mindanao State University -- is part of the group Abu Sayyaf, whose charter states its purpose is to either establish an Islamic state in the Philippines or to "reach Martyrdom in Allah's way," according to court documents.

"We will continue to use the full extent of our terrorism laws to prosecute those who take Americans hostage overseas," said Channing Phillips, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. "The pursuit of justice on behalf of hostage-taking victims remains one of our top priorities."

The case against Haipe was unsealed this past May, on the same day he was captured in the Philippines. In the seven-count indictment from November 2000, he is charged with conspiracy, hostage taking, conspiracy to use a firearm, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and aiding and abetting.

With the case remaining under seal for nearly nine years, it is one of the longest stretches ever that a federal case has remained under seal, one source said.

Haipe was extradited to the United States, arriving in Washington only hours before his initial court appearance.

"Haipe is a dangerous man as the indictment spells out," said Justice Department spokesman Rich Kolko. "The Department of Justice never gave up on this case, and it's good to see him in an American courtroom to face justice."

Dressed in a dark blue jumpsuit, Haipe spoke only a few words while before a federal magistrate judge today.

Asked whether he could afford a lawyer, Haipe told the judge, "No, I don't have money." The court appointed him a lawyer.

Haipe is expected to be back in court next week, to face the judge who was initially assigned the case back in November 2000.