No more charges for MRC leader, says State

The State does not intend to prefer additional charges against Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) chairman Omar Mwamnuadzi and 11 other suspected members of the group.

Kwale Resident Magistrate Paul Mutai Tuesday directed a pre-bail report against the accused to be presented to court by a probation officer.

The men have been charged with taking part in an illegal assembly.

Asked if they had anything to tell the court, Mr Mwamnuadzi and the others who were all unrepresented said they had nothing to say.

They were remanded till November 3 when the case will be mentioned.

The other accused are Khamis Mohamed, Baya Mwagovi, Swaleh Omar, Anthony Karisa, Katana Jibana, Munga Tsuma, Mohamed Juma, Masud Juma, Jumamosi Issa and Jairus Muyesi.

INVESTIGATION

Prosecuting Counsel George Munene said the men committed the offence on October 15 in Waa location.

The accused who were taken to court last week denied the charges and the prosecution applied to have them remanded in order to allow room for investigations.

During the mention of the case Tuesday, heavily armed General Service Unit officers, regular police and prison warders milled around the court. The MRC leader arrived at the court some minutes past 9am.

Hundreds of people believed to be his supporters and relatives were outside the court as early as 8.30am but police allowed only a few inside the courtroom.

The prosecutor had previously said that the men were arrested with documents which police believed disclosed plans to form a larger criminal organisation.

MRC members protested at the arrest of their leader.

When Mwamnuadzi, his wife Maimuna Hamisi and 38 others were arrested in 2012, they were charged with being in possession of a gun and 15 rounds of ammunition.

They also faced two counts of incitement to violence and being in possession of paraphernalia used in witchcraft.

Thirty five other suspected MRC members were charged with having links with armed persons.