Malaysians guilty of roles in 2002 Bali bombings released from Guantanamo
2024.12.18
Kuala Lumpur

Updated at 4:30 p.m. ET on 2024-12-18
Two Malaysians who pleaded guilty for their roles in the 2002 Bali bombings were in their government’s custody after the United States announced their repatriation from the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, where they were locked up for 18 years.
The duo, Mohammed Farik bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir bin Lep, were turned over to Malaysian authorities, according to a statement from the home ministry in Kuala Lumpur.
“The unity government has received from the United States government the two Malaysian nationals, Mohammed Farik bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir bin Lep, who were in prison since 2006 at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp on the principle of human rights and support for universal justice,” the ministry said in a statement Wednesday.
However, it did not mention whether the two would be sent to a Malaysian prison upon being repatriated from the U.S. naval base in Cuba.
In January, a U.S. military judge at Guantanamo Bay sentenced bin Amin and bin Lep to five more years in prison after they pleaded guilty to five charges connected to their supporting roles in twin bombings that killed 202 people in October 2002 – Indonesia’s deadliest-ever terror attack.

Their repatriation this week was made in secret and information was released to their lawyers at the last minute.
Lawyer Brian Bouffard said his client, bin Lep, was a changed man and ready to be reunited with his family. Their repatriation this week was made in secret and information was released to their lawyers at the last minute.
“It is now more than two decades since Nazir was taken. He has grown in that time, and is today a man of peace who will live the remainder of his life in peace. We are grateful to everyone, in Malaysia and in the U.S., who understood that it was time to bring Nazir home,” Bouffard said in a text message to BenarNews.
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In its own statement, the U.S. Defense Department said both men had provided testimony before their departure against Indonesian Encep Nurjaman (Hambali) the alleged mastermind of “al-Qaeda-affiliated attacks on nightclubs in Bali, Indonesia, in 2002, and the attack on the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2003.”
Hambali is expected to stand trial before a military court at Guantanamo Bay on similar charges against him. As part of their plea agreements, bin Amin and bin Lep could not return to the United States for any reason, making it necessary for them to testify before leaving, Bouffard said.

Arrested in Thailand in 2003, bin Amin and bin Lep were held at a CIA black site before being transferred to Cuba in 2006. They pleaded guilty in January to murder, conspiracy and three other charges linked to the Bali bombing that killed over 200 people.
Previously, a source who requested anonymity for privacy concerns, told BenarNews that both were likely to be sent home before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
“There has been concern following Trump’s victory in the U.S. election. But we leave it to the government and the authority to work on it. Our hope is for him to be released soon,” the source said.
We love him
Relatives of bin Lep were elated that he is back in Malaysia.
Professing his love for his younger brother, Najib Lep, 60, said he had already made plans to reintegrate him back into the society.
“We love him. We will take care of him and his welfare when he returns to us,” Najib told BenarNews.
“For now, we have yet to receive any information from the Malaysian authorities. What we’ve got so far is just details from the media. Nevertheless, we cannot be more happy and grateful to Allah.”
A source, who requested anonymity to ensure the safety of bin Amin’s family, said they were ready to welcome him home.
“Mohammed Farik has expressed his desire to care for his ailing parents upon return. His siblings have prepared a place for him to stay and will provide other necessary assistance for him. It will take time to readjust as he has been away from home for more than 20 years.
“The family is not ready to speak to the press and is waiting for clearance to meet Mohammed Farik,” the source told BenarNews.
Bin Amin’s parents, ages 82 and 88, had been made aware of his return.
Lawyer Christine Funk said she and other members of bin Amin’s legal team were overjoyed by the prospect of their client being back in Malaysia.
“Mr. bin Amin said it best at his sentencing, when he told the Commission, the prosecution, the victim family members, and the observers, ‘Instead of trying to change the world, I can only change myself. And over the past 20 years, I have changed. I am not an angry young man anymore. I am a reformed man,’” Funk said in a statement to BenarNews, adding he planned to “go forward as a good and peaceful Muslim.”
Funk said the other members are confident that bin Amin will succeed.

Malaysian National Police Chief Razarudin Husain said the pair were to be evaluated and rehabilitated before being reintegrated into society, adding “everyone deserves a second chance.”
“Both individuals are in good and healthy condition and feel blessed that they are able to return home and finally reunite with their family,” he said in a statement about bin Amin and bin Lep.
“Both showed a positive attitude and openness toward the evaluation process and rehabilitation and have expressed their high commitment to become progressive members of society.”
Congress notified last month
Leading up to their release, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin notified Congress on Nov. 14 “of his intent to repatriate” the Malaysians “and, in consultation with our partners in Malaysia, we completed the requirements for responsible transfer,” the statement from the Pentagon said. A 30-day notice must be filed before such transfers can occur.

The Malaysians had been linked to Hambali until their cases were separated from his in 2023 ahead of their plea deal.
Court documents state that beginning at the end of 2001, “including the periods before, during, and after the October 12, 2002, Bali bombings,” bin Lep and bin Amin helped Hambali “transfer money for operations, and obtain and store items such as fraudulent identification documents, weapons and instructions on how to make bombs.”
With the transfer, the number of detainees at Guantanamo Bay has been reduced to 27, the Pentagon said.
This report has been updated to include a statement from Christine Funk, lawyer for Mohammed Farik bin Amin.