TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, welcomes US prosecution for Encep Nurjaman, known as Hambali, a terrorism defendant held in Guantanamo, Cuba.
"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," said Yusril at his office in South Jakarta on Friday, July 24, 2026.
According to Yusril, Indonesia continues to receive developments about Hambali's case from the US military. Hambali was captured with Thai and Spanish passports, but as his family remains in Indonesia, he's still associated with this country.
Hambali's legal team also frequently visits Indonesia to gather defense material by making contacts with Hambali's family.
"The Indonesian government has no intention to repatriate him here," said Yusril.
Meanwhile, Hambali was captured by the United States military on suspicion of involvement in a series of international terrorism acts in various countries. Hambali is also accused as the mastermind behind the 2002 Bali Bombings.
Currently, Hambali is being prosecuted by the United States Military Court after being detained for more than 20 years.
Born in Cianjur, West Java, on April 4, 1964, Hambali has several names, including Riduan Isomuddin, Encep Nurjaman, Mizi, Azman, Alejandro Davidson Gonzalez, Hendrawan, Kahar, Muzabkar, Halim Osmann, Samsuri, and Daniel Suarez Naveira.
He is known as the mastermind behind various acts of terror that took place in the early 2000s.
Vedro Imanuel Girsang contributed to the writing of this article.
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