Nazir Lep and Farik Amin, the Malaysian duo repatriated in December after pleading guilty to their roles in the 2002 Bali bombings, have been placed under a five-year travel ban.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the restriction was a condition set by the Malaysian government prior to their return. Both men had agreed to the terms.
“It is part of the agreement with the government. They must remain in the country for five years, including refraining from performing Umrah and Hajj,” Razarudin told Twentytwo13.
“There is no restriction on domestic travel, but they’ve been advised to inform the police officer monitoring them of their whereabouts for security purposes.”
In January last year, Nazir and Farik — who had been held at the Guantanamo Bay military facility in Cuba for nearly two decades — were each sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to five charges related to their supporting roles in the 2002 twin bombings that killed more than 200 people.
As part of their plea deal, both men agreed to testify against Encep Nurjaman, also known as Hambali — the alleged mastermind of the bombings — before being repatriated.
Their return to Malaysia was carried out in secret. Even their lawyers were kept in the dark and were only informed of the handover at the last minute.
Upon arrival, the pair underwent a month-long assessment before being released to their families, allowing them to celebrate their first Hari Raya in 20 years.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, in a statement on Dec 18, said the government had developed a comprehensive reintegration programme for the duo, including social support services, welfare assistance and health screenings. A monitoring mechanism involving periodic police visits was also put in place to support the process.
The aim is to help both men rebuild their lives and prevent them from returning to terror-related activities.
Why are they not behind bars?
A source familiar with the case explained that the two could not be imprisoned in Malaysia, as they had not committed any offence under Malaysian law.
“They’re not considered prisoners here. They are free men, and all we can do is monitor their movements,” the source said.
So, what are they doing now?
Nazir, who now lives in a village in a northern state, has taken up farming. According to Razarudin, he’s growing chillies and raising chickens and goats as part of a project initiated by his brother.
“He also frequents the mosque and has integrated well with the local community,” Razarudin said.
A close family member added that in his free time, Nazir — who became fluent in Arabic while at Guantanamo — spends his time memorising the Quran.
Farik, meanwhile, is focused on caring for his elderly parents, aged 83 and 89.
“For now, he just wants to be with them,” Razarudin said.
Twentytwo13 made several attempts to interview the two men but was unsuccessful. Their families said both prefer to keep a low profile.
“He doesn’t wish to be in the spotlight,” said a source close to Nazir’s family.
Nazir, Farik, and Hambali were arrested in Thailand in 2003 and held at CIA-run “black sites” before being transferred to Guantanamo Bay in 2006. A 2014 US Senate report revealed that all three were subjected to torture while in secret detention.
Nazir and Farik were long linked to Hambali until their cases were separated in 2023, paving the way for their plea deal. Their transfer brought the number of detainees at Guantanamo Bay down to 27, according to the Pentagon.
Main image (insert): A dated picture of Nazir Lep (left) and Farik Amin.
