29-10-2024 (GUANTANAMO BAY) A US military court has heard how Indonesian terror suspect Encep Nurjaman, widely known as Hambali, orchestrated deadly attacks in Bali and Jakarta after his initial plans to strike American targets in Singapore were thwarted.
During proceedings at the Guantanamo Bay military tribunal, prosecutors outlined how Nurjaman, while based in Malaysia, maintained close ties with Al Qaeda leadership and exercised complete control over the organisation’s financial resources and operatives in Southeast Asia.
Chief prosecutor Lt Col Christopher J Goewert detailed Nurjaman’s original plans for Singapore, which included attacks on US servicemen at MRT stations, the American embassy, and US naval vessels. These plots were ultimately rejected by Al Qaeda’s leadership as unfeasible.
Following this setback, prosecutors say Nurjaman followed direct advice from Osama bin Laden to seek out more vulnerable targets. “The defendant pivoted to attacking defenceless locations such as bars, cafes, and discos,” Goewert told the court.
The prosecution presented evidence of Nurjaman’s dual role within both Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah, describing how he received operational directives from bin Laden to conduct attacks across Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines while maintaining his Malaysian base of operations.
Two Malaysian nationals, Nazir Lep and Farik Amin, recruited by Nurjaman for these operations, have already pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges. Both received 23-year sentences with possibilities for early release after five years and potential third-country repatriation.
The case has shed new light on the interconnected nature of terrorist networks in Southeast Asia during this period, revealing how failed plots in one country led to devastating attacks in another.
The trial continues with Nurjaman facing multiple terrorism-related charges before the military commission, as prosecutors build their case around his alleged role in redirecting terrorist activities across the region.
