Judge halts release of 4 terror accused on bond

The High Court yesterday stopped the release of four men linked to a terror attack on Jomo Kenyatta airport soon after a magistrate granted them bond.

Mr Justice Mbogholi Msagha issued the orders following an urgent application by Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko.

Mr Tobiko is seeking revision of the decision by Senior Principal Magistrate Doreen Mulyeko to grant the accused Sh20 million bond each.

Justice Msagha said the orders would be in force until Mr Tobiko’s application is determined.

Ms Mulyeko had asked Mr Mohammed Osman, Mr Garad Hussain, Mr Abdi Mohammed and Mr Ali Warsame to deposit the bonds and provide two Kenyan sureties to secure their release.

The four have denied planting an explosive that went off at Java Coffee Cafe at the airport on January 16.

The blast did not cause any casualties or injuries and police initially mistook it for a bulb that had fallen off a loose fitting.

The prosecution had opposed the suspects’ bond application, insisting that they posed a threat to national security.

However, Ms Mulekyo dismissed the prosecution’s argument, saying no compelling reasons had been given to deny “the accused their constitutional rights.”

“This court is alive to the numerous terror attacks that have been committed in and around the country but the prosecution must present hard and cold facts to support their claims,” she ruled.