US repatriates two Malaysian Guantanamo detainees

KUALA LUMPUR: The United States (US) Department of Defence has announced the repatriation of two Malaysian detainees, Mohammed Farik Amin and Mohammed Nazir Lep, from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to the Malaysian government.

In a statement posted on its website on Wednesday, the Department of Defence said the two men had pleaded guilty before a Military Commission to multiple offences, including murder in violation of the law of war, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, conspiracy, and destruction of property in violation of the law of war.

"Pursuant to a pretrial agreement between the US and the two men, each has cooperated with the US government and has provided deposition testimony available for use against the alleged mastermind, Encep Nurjaman, of the al-Qaeda-affiliated attacks on nightclubs in Bali, Indonesia, in 2002, and the attack on the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2003," the statement said.

The Department of Defence added that both men were sentenced to confinement for approximately five years, as approved on 13 June 2024, under a pretrial agreement.

It was recommended that they be repatriated to Malaysia to serve the remainder of their sentences.

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin notified Congress of the intent to repatriate the two detainees on 14 November 2024.

Following consultations with Malaysian authorities, the requirements for a responsible transfer were completed, added the statement.

-- BERNAMA