Alleged Bali bombing mastermind to face trial in Guantanamo Bay after 22 years in custody

The alleged mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings will face trial in Guantanamo Bay in September, about 22 years after he was captured.

Encep Nurjaman, widely known as Hambali, was the reputed head of the Indonesian terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah, which is linked to Al-Qaeda in Southeast Asia.

This group orchestrated the 2002 nightclub bombings in Bali, resulting in 202 casualties, among them 88 Australians, as well as the 2003 attack on the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, killing 12 individuals.

Alleged Bali bombings mastermind Hambali. (AP)

Nurjaman and two other men were arrested in Thailand in 2003 before being held in a secret CIA prison network for three years.

The trio were transferred to Guantanamo Bay in 2006.

The US Department of Defence has announced pre-trial proceedings for Nurjaman will take place over two weeks from September 8.

A military commission will conduct proceedings at the Expeditionary Legal Complex in the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Nurjaman is facing a series of serious charges, which were laid by the US in 2021.

The US Department of Defense stated that the charges comprised “conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, intentionally causing severe bodily harm, terrorism, attacking non-combatants, targeting civilian establishments, property destruction, and providing accessory assistance after the act, all breaching the laws of war.”

The trio were transferred to Guantanamo Bay in 2006. (AP)

The pair pleaded guilty and testified against Nurjaman.

The US Department of Defence announced that they will be sent to Malaysia to spend another five years in prison. 

According to the UN Security Council, Nurjaman has a “long track record” of involvement in terrorist activities and first met the founders of Jemaah Islamiyah in the 1980s.

He then reportedly travelled to Afghanistan to train and fight with several Al-Qaeda leaders, including Osama bin Laden, before returning to Indonesia in the early 1990s.

He had been wanted by authorities in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the US. 

You May Also Like

Sam Neill was suffering from pneumonia before his 'sudden' death on Monday at the age of 78

Sam Neill Death Rumors Debunked: Jurassic Park Star Is Alive Despite Viral Pneumonia Claims

Sam Neill had been battling pneumonia in the lead-up to his sudden…
Sam Neill was pictured for the final time four weeks ago in a sweet post shared on his Instagram profile, prior to his 'sudden and unexpected' death aged 78

Sam Neill Seen Smiling at ARIA Hall of Fame Awards Weeks Before Reported Death at 78

Sam Neill was seen in what became his final public Instagram post…
Sam Neill looked like he had all the time in the world as he slipped into the crowd at Sydney's ARIA Hall of Fame ceremony in June – his final public appearance before his sudden death at 78.

Friends Reflect on Sam Neill’s Final Days: Nobody Saw This Coming

The music was booming, the lights glowed softly, and Sam Neill appeared…
Three years before his passing, Sam Neill said he was unafraid of death but still had so much to live for

Sam Neill’s Candid Reflections on Mortality Resurface Amid Health Battle

Three years before his death, Sam Neill reflected candidly on mortality, saying…
Sam Neill, who died suddenly on Monday aged 78, boasted a vast property and winery empire, as well as a net worth estimated to be between $25 million and $28 million

Sam Neill Net Worth and Property Portfolio: Inside the Jurassic Park Star’s Fortune

Sam Neill, 78, remains one of New Zealand’s most recognisable screen figures,…
Iconic Jurassic Park director Steven Spielberg has paid tribute to star Sam Neill following his shock death at 78 - Neill pictured with Laura Dern in the 1993 film

Laura Dern and Steven Spielberg React to Reports of Sam Neill’s Death at 78

Jurassic Park icon Laura Dern and filmmaker Steven Spielberg have led tributes…