Two Malaysians, who had earlier admitted to their involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings, have been returned from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay to their home country. This information was made public by the U.S. and Malaysian governments.

The individuals in question, named Mohammed Farik bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir bin Lep, spent nearly two decades at the infamous Cuban detention center. The Ministry of Home Affairs in Malaysia confirmed their handover in an official statement.

Under the banner of human rights and universal justice, the unity government of Malaysia acknowledged the receipt of the two nationals from the U.S. government. They had been incarcerated at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp since 2006. The return of these two individuals has been corroborated by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Farik and Nazir, who worked as financial couriers post the 2002 bombings to fund the terrorists involved in the attacks, were under American custody since their capture in Thailand in 2003. After several years in the chain of “black sites” run by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, they were ultimately moved to Guantanamo Bay in 2006.

Earlier this year, a military jury handed them a sentence of 23 years in confinement, excluding time served, after they accepted guilt for charges of murder, conspiracy, accessory after the fact, intentional infliction of severe bodily harm, and property destruction in relation to their roles in the lethal Bali bombing. The bombing, which resulted in 202 fatalities including seven U.S. citizens, is the most deadly terrorist attack in Indonesian history.

However, their sentences were reduced to approximately five years each after they consented to testify against Hambali, the alleged orchestrator of the Bali bombings. At that time, it was recommended that the men be repatriated or moved to another country to complete their sentences. It has been reported that their return to Malaysia this week was carried out covertly, with their legal representatives only being informed at the eleventh hour.

The exact part that the two men played in the Bali bombings is still vague. Despite admitting guilt to the charges brought by the U.S. military court, they both refute any direct involvement in the attacks. They only conceded to becoming involved with the bomb plotters after the attack, aiding in concealing some of the culprits and transferring funds for subsequent attacks.

The release of the two men has sparked outrage in Australia, which saw 88 of its citizens lose their lives in the Bali bombings. The Australian government has voiced its desire for the Malaysian authorities to closely monitor the two men.

The Malaysian Home Affairs Minister has announced the formulation of a comprehensive reintegration program specifically tailored for the two individuals. This program will include support services, welfare, and health screening.