Businessman denies illegal deals in ivory

A Mombasa businessman arrested by Interpol in Tanzania was Wednesday charged with illegal possession of 2,152 kilogrammes of ivory.

Mr Feisal Mohammed Ali alias Feisal Shahbal who appeared before Mombasa senior principal magistrate Richard Odenyo denied the charge.
The accused was presented to court barely two hours after his arrival from Tanzania where he was arrested.

He faced another charge of dealing with the tusks without a licence.

There was a warrant of arrest in force against the accused in the case in which he has been charged alongside Mr Abdul Halim Sadiq, Ghalib Sadiq Kara, Praverz Noor Mohamed and Mr Abdulmajeed Ibrahim.

Assistant DPP Alexander Muteti opposed the release of the accused on bond pending hearing of the case.

“I have firm instructions to apply that the accused remains in custody pending hearing, for reason that he has been on the run from June 6 this year,” said Mr Muteti.

FLIGHT RISK

Mr Muteti argued that the accused remains a flight risk since he was arrested in a foreign jurisdiction.

He said the trial which also involves his co-accused has not commented on the account of the absence of the accused.

The accused does not have travel documents; we are ready to proceed with the hearing of the case on daily basis until its conclusion.

But defence lawyer Cliff Ombeta urged the court to release the accused on bond saying he had travel documents. He said his client was entitled to bond and that the State could not suspend the rights of the accused.

“We’re not objecting to the accused remaining in the county, he’s a family man with business,” said Mr Ombeta.
The case continues.