Kathleen H. Hicks Deputy Secretary of Defense | Official Website
The Department of Defense has announced the repatriation of two detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Malaysia. Mohammed Farik bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir bin Lep, identified by their Internment Serial Numbers 10021 and 10022 respectively, were transferred following their guilty pleas before a Military Commission.
Both men faced charges 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. The U.S. reached a pretrial agreement with the detainees under which they cooperated with authorities by providing deposition testimony. This testimony is available for use against Encep Nurjaman, alleged mastermind behind al-Qaida-affiliated attacks in Bali in 2002 and Jakarta in 2003.
On June 13, 2024, the Convening Authority approved sentences of approximately five years' confinement for each detainee. It was recommended that both be repatriated or transferred to a third-party nation to serve out their remaining sentence.
Secretary of Defense Austin notified Congress on November 14, 2024, about the intention to repatriate bin Amin and bin Lep to Malaysia. Following consultations with Malaysian partners, all necessary conditions for their transfer were fulfilled.
The U.S. expressed appreciation for Malaysia's support in efforts aimed at reducing the detainee population at Guantanamo Bay and eventually closing the facility.
Currently, there are 27 detainees at Guantanamo Bay: fifteen are eligible for transfer; three are awaiting a Periodic Review Board; seven are involved in military commission processes; and two have been convicted and sentenced by military commissions.