KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysians, who were handed over to the United States (US) from Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba, are looking forward to starting a new life with their families upon returning to Malaysia.
This was revealed by lawyers Brian Bouffard and Christine Funk, who represent Mohammed Nazir Lep, 47, and Mohammed Farik Amin, 49, during sentencing proceedings in the US earlier this year in January.
In the hearing, Bouffard said that his clients wished to live a peaceful life with their families, following their past experiences.
"He has already faced multiple punishments for his past involvement with the wrong people. We hope that, one day, those responsible will be held accountable for the wrongs committed in our name," he said.
Meanwhile, Funk said that Mohammed Farik hoped to return home to care for his parents and start a career based on his skills and talents.
Before being transferred to the Malaysian government, both detainees provided sworn statements that were hoped to assist in the prosecution of Indonesian Encep Nurjamah, also known as Hambali.
Hambali is accused of masterminding the Bali bombings and other terrorist attacks in 2002 and 2003.
Both men had previously admitted to assisting Hambali in evading capture in Thailand in 2003.
They were then placed in solitary confinement at a secret US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) facility before being moved to the detention camp in 2006.
Mohammed Nazir and Mohammed Farik faced eight charges in a US military court, including seven related to the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people and the bombing of the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta in 2003.
A jury of five US military officers deliberated on their sentences, which ranged from 20 to 25 years.
The two men were eventually sentenced to 23 years in prison, with the possibility of release by 2029.