The Aum Shinrikyo religious cult, accused of carrying out the fatal sarin gas attacks in Tokyo's subway system in 1995, has opened a software development firm and resumed ties with followers in Russia, members said Tuesday.

About 40 Aum members are involved in developing software for the company, with 21 of them providing finances to set up the firm, the members said. The company, established in Tokyo in late August, began full-scale operations this month, they said.

According to the members, profits from the firm will be used to compensate victims of Aum-related crimes.

The Aum members also said they have resumed ties with other Aum followers in Russia. Ties between the two groups were severed after the 1995 sarin gas attack in Tokyo.

Three to four Aum members in Japan have been in regular contact with about 200 Aum members in Russia, the members said, adding the Russia-based members are mainly based in Moscow.

Also on Tuesday, the Tokyo High Court said it will give a ruling on Jan. 29 to former Aum member Koichi Kitamura, 33, who has appealed the life sentence handed down to him by the Tokyo District Court. Kitamura, who acted as a driver for the Aum group, was charged with murder for his role in the subway attack.

Aum founder Shoko Asahara and a number of his followers have been tried for a host of crimes, including the subway attack that left 12 dead and thousands others injured.

Meanwhile, public security officials said they are keeping a close watch over any moves made by the group to raise funds or attract followers.

In 2000, a group of Aum-related firms were found to have won contracts to develop computer systems for government departments and major firms.

Earlier this month, Tokyo police arrested an Aum member on suspicion of breach of trust for stealing banking data from a firm that developed a computer system for a major financial group.

Security authorities in the United States decided earlier this year to keep the cult on the international list of potentially dangerous groups.