Guantanamo detainee's kin pleads for him to serve remaining term here

The family of Mohammed Nazir Lep, one of the two Malaysians detained over terrorism-related charges in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, hopes he can serve the remainder of his term in a Malaysian prison.

According to his brother Najib Lep, he was told by lawyers representing Nazir (above) earlier this month, that four out of 10 charges against the latter have been dropped and that he intends to plead guilty to the remaining six charges soon.

“Whatever the sentence the US will hand (to Nazir), I urge the Malaysian government to intervene to bring back Nazir to serve the term here. Let him serve his imprisonment here as he has already spent 20 years away from his family.

“Nazir is already 46 now, let him return to his country. Even if he is handed another 25 years, let him serve the sentence at home,” Utusan Malaysia quoted Najib saying.

Nazir, and another Malaysian, Mohd Farik Amin, 48, were among seven arrested over alleged involvement in the October 2002 bombings in Bali, Indonesia, that killed 202 people, as well as the bombing at the JW Marriott Jakarta hotel in August 2003 that killed 12.

The duo was reportedly detained in Thailand in 2003 and transferred to US Central Intelligence Agency-operated black sites before being relocated to Guantanamo Bay in 2006.

Previously, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the government is still in initial discussions with the US to seek the release of the duo.

Elaborating, Najib also expressed hope that the sentence that would be imposed on his brother over the six remaining charges would run from the date of his arrest in 2003 instead of the date of sentencing.

“The lawyer said that the incarceration could run from the date of sentencing. I think this is unfair as Nazir has already served 20 years without trial.

“He has spent half of his lifetime in Guantanamo and it (the sentence) should be from the date my brother was arrested. In addition, my brother has cooperated well (with the authorities) during his detention,” Najib said.

In anticipation of Nazir’s release, his family has begun constructing a house for him in Muar, Johor.

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