‘Al-Shabaab brides’ given 20 more days

Three women who were arrested on their way to Somalia allegedly to join Al-Shabaab will be held for another 20 days.

Ms Khadija Abubakar Abdulkadir, Ms Maryam Said Aboud and Ms Ummulkhayr Sadri Abdulla will continue being held to allow police to finish investigations, Mombasa Senior Resident magistrate Irene Ruguru ruled.

Ms Ruguru, however, cautioned the State that the time within which the women could continue being held was running out, saying the law allows detention of up to 90 days in such cases.

In seeking the continued detention of the suspects, the prosecution told the court that investigations were extensive and complex.

On March 30, the magistrate allowed an application by the prosecution for the three women to be remanded for 20 days, which lapsed on Monday. The women opposed the application through lawyer Hamisi Mwadzogo.

The case will be mentioned on May 11. Meanwhile, a second Muslim cleric arrested over the Garissa attack will be detained for 30 more days “to assist with investigations”.

The prosecution had requested a Nairobi court for extended custodial orders against Mr Hamed Hassan Musral, a Mandera Islamic Centre sheikh.

CLERIC HELD

Mr Musral, who was escorted to court under heavy security, was arrested on April 17 in Mandera and flown to Nairobi on April 20.

Another terrorism suspect, Mr Zadock Aenea Agutu, has been remanded in custody for five days after he was arrested a JKIA, having flown in from Somalia.

The prosecution said he was fighting alongside the Al-Shabaab and had taken advantage of a government amnesty and opted to return home.