Witness recounts how British terror suspect faked identity

A witness on Friday recounted how he met suspected British terror suspect Jermain Grant last year and assisted him to marry a Kenyan girl in the belief he was Canadian.

Mr Hassan Mohamed said he met Mr Grant, who had identified himself as Ali Mohamed Ibrahim, in Mombasa's Old Town area in November last year. The two used to pray together at Memon Mosque.

“After mosque we used to drink coffee together. He told me he is a Canadian and a businessman who brings in mobile phones and cars,” said Mr Mohamed.

Testifying in a case in which Mr Grant and three other people are facing terrorism related charges, the witness said Mr Grant told him that he lived in with friends but never specified the exact location.

“He told me he had lived in Nairobi, but stressed that he wanted to live in Mombasa. I have prayed with him many times. He also told me he holds a degree in Business Administration,” said Mr Mohamed.

Mr Mohamed told senior principal magistrate Joyce Gandani that Mr Grant had requested for his assistance to get a wife which he agreed, although he initially thought it was a joke.

The witness, who was being led in his evidence in chief by assistant director in charge of public prosecutions in Coast Mr Jacob Ondari, said upon getting the bride to be, Mr Grant was to pay a bride price of Sh 50, 000 and furniture.

The court heard that Mr Grant got married on December 18 last year at Mwandoni area at the bride’s home.

“I was the one who looked for Kadhi to marry the two,” said Mr Mohamed, who said prior to the wedding Mr Grant took him to see the house he had rented.

He told the court that after the wedding, the following morning he had sent a message to Mr Grant enquiring how he slept. The message was not replied.

The witness later called his relative only to be informed to go to his sister’s place.

Upon arriving at his sisters’ place, the court heard that the witness was informed that the newlyweds had been arrested.

Mr Mohamed said he went to the Kadhi who had conducted Mr Grant’s wedding to get a copy of a marriage certificate and proceeded to the provincial police headquarters.

He told the court that he never knew why the newlyweds had been arrested.

The witness, who said he knew the accused between November and December last year, told the court that “as for now” he knows nothing criminal about Mr Grant.

Mr Grant alias Ali Mohamed, Mr Fuad Abubakar and Ms Warda Breik are facing a charge of being in possession of explosive materials.

They allegedly jointly with others not before court knowingly and unlawfully were found in possession of acetone, hydrogen peroxide, ammonium nitrate, sulphur sublimed and lead nitrate chemicals, four size AA batteries, an electric switch and a piece of electric current conducting wire.