JAKARTA, July 25 — Indonesia has welcomed the United States’ decision to prosecute terrorism suspect Encep Nurjaman, better known as Hambali, who has been held at Guantanamo Bay for more than 20 years.
“Since he was captured by American agents and detained in Guantanamo, it is better for us to welcome the US government to prosecute this case,” Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said yesterday, Indonesian news outlet Tempo reported.
Yusril said Indonesia continues to receive updates on Hambali’s case from the US military but has no plans to seek his return.
“The Indonesian government has no intention to repatriate him here,” he was quoted as saying.
Hambali was arrested in Thailand in 2003 and transferred to the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2006.
The Indonesia-born militant has been accused of being a senior figure in Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a regional militant group linked to Al-Qaeda, and of involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people.
He is currently being prosecuted by a US military court alongside two Malaysians, Mohammed Nazir Lep and Mohammed Farik Amin, who were allegedly linked to the Bali attacks.
Why Indonesia does not want Hambali back
Indonesia’s position on Hambali’s return changed after authorities raised questions over his citizenship status and legal complications surrounding possible prosecution.
Yusril said Hambali was arrested while carrying Thai and Spanish passports, and the government has not obtained official documents confirming that he remains an Indonesian citizen.
Under Indonesia’s single-citizenship policy, a person who voluntarily obtains another nationality may lose Indonesian citizenship unless they later reapply.
Although Hambali’s family remains in Indonesia and his legal team has visited the country to gather defence material, Yusril said the government cannot simply accept his return without clarity on his status.
Authorities have also cited security concerns given Hambali’s alleged involvement in major terrorist attacks.
Yusril previously said legal action in Indonesia could face challenges because of the country’s statute of limitations for certain crimes.
According to Tempo, offences carrying life imprisonment or the death penalty generally have a limitation period of 18 years in Indonesia, meaning some cases linked to the 2002 Bali bombings may no longer be prosecuted.
Born in Cianjur, West Java, on April 4, 1964, Hambali has been accused of involvement in several terror plots in the early 2000s, including the Bali bombings and other planned attacks targeting Indonesia and US interests.
Yusril said Indonesia would continue monitoring the case but believed US prosecution was the most appropriate path given the circumstances.
Date: 25 July, 2026 3:00 pm
Source: Malay Mail
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