US repatriates two Malaysians held at Guantanamo Bay for 18 years

MALAYSIA: The United States Department of Defense announced on (18 December), the repatriation of two detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Malaysia, where the government confirmed plans for their reintegration.

Mohammed Farik bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir bin Lep, who had been detained for 18 years at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba, were sent back to Malaysia following their guilty pleas to multiple charges in January 2024.

Farik and Nazir were each convicted of offences including conspiring with an affiliate of Al Qaeda in the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people, as well as other charges including murder in violation of the law of war, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, conspiracy, and destruction of property.

These charges were acknowledged before a military commission.

Both men were arrested in 2003 in Thailand and were placed in solitary confinement at a secret location operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

They were subsequently transferred to Guantanamo Bay in 2006, where they remained until their release.

The US Department of Defense, in its statement, noted that the repatriation was carried out in consultation with the Malaysian government.

The department assured that all necessary procedures for the responsible transfer of the detainees were met, adhering to international protocols.

“In consultation with our partners in Malaysia, we completed the requirements for responsible transfer,” the statement said.

Both men were given five-year sentences, and it was recommended in June 2024 that they be repatriated or transferred to another country to serve the remainder of their sentences.

Malaysia’s Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution confirmed the repatriation, stating that the process was aligned with the principles of human rights and universal justice.

“The government has planned a comprehensive reintegration programme specifically for both individuals, which includes support services, welfare, and health screenings,” Saifuddin said.

He expressed gratitude to the various agencies involved in the successful completion of the handover.

Saifuddin also recalled that in September 2023, the government had accelerated efforts to repatriate Farik and Nazir, and had discussions with Tina Kaidanow, the Special Representative for Guantanamo Affairs, to facilitate the process.

In their military trial, Farik and Nazir faced a total of eight charges, seven of which were linked to the 2002 Bali bombings and the 2003 JW Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta.