Women linked to slain terror attackers charged

Two of three terror suspects, Nasteho Ali Tahlil, Luul Ali Tahlil, and Zamzam Abdi Abdullahi, hide from the cameras at Shanzu Law courts in Mombasa, September 23, 2016. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Luul Ali Tahli, Nasteho Ali Tahli and Zamzam Abdallahi were charged a few hours after another court in Mombasa released them on Thursday for lack of evidence.
  • However, they were rearrested as soon as they had been set free by Mombasa Principal Magistrate Henry Nyakweba.
  • The three youthful women were taken before before Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Diana Mochache on Friday morning and denied the charges.

Three women accused of having links with the mastermind of the foiled terror attack at Central Police Station in Mombasa on September 11 have β€Ž been charged with failing to disclose information that could have prevented the attack.

Luul Ali Tahli, Nasteho Ali Tahli and Zamzam Abdallahi were charged a few hours after another court in Mombasa released them on Thursday for lack of evidence.

However, they were rearrested as soon as they had been set free by Mombasa Principal Magistrate Henry Nyakweba.

The three youthful women were taken before before Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Diana Mochache on Friday morning and denied the charges.

The court was told that the youthful suspects knew Tasnim Yakub Abdullahi Farah, the ring leader of the terrorists, but failed to disclose the information to the police officers.

The respondents are accused of committing the offence between September 11 and 22 in Mombasa County.

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Ms Luul, Ms Nasteho and Ms Zamzam are said to be classmates of one of the slain women at Qubaa Muslim School and that they had formed a WhatsApp group with former classmates where they interacted, discussing various topics.

Police claimed they hold crucial information which can help in revealing more details in relation to the impeded September 11 terrorist attack.

Immediately after the suspects were charged, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Alexander Muteti rose and said prosecution intended to block any attempt to grant the suspects bail until the case is heard and determined.

He also told the court that the prosecution intends to consolidate the case with one in which Hania Said Sagar, the widow of slain Muslim cleric Sheikh Aboud Rogo, is charged with the same offence.

He argued that the cases are similar and that it was necessary to consolidate the two cases for easy prosecution and that it would also help cut cost of prosecuting the two cases.

"Your honour if you read the two charge sheets, you will realise that the offences are the same, only names of the suspects are different.

In that view, we will make an application to have the two cases consolidated under one charge sheet for easy prosecution," he said.

Sagar was charged in the morning at around 11pm with a similar offence, which she is accused of committing on September 5 at Kanamai, Kilifi County.