Muslim cleric arrested with grenade in Eastleigh denied bail
What you need to know:
- Mr Hassan Mahati Omar and his wife Ms Fardosa Mohammed Abdi were charged with being in possession of two hand grenades
- The cleric and his wife were arrested after police mounted a security operation in Eastleigh following a terrorist attack
A Muslim cleric and his wife allegedly found with two grenades during a swoop in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate following a terrorist attack in which six people were killed have been denied bail.
The couple will be helping police with investigations to recover 20 other grenades said to be hidden in the city, the trial court ruled.
Mr Hassan Mahati Omar and his wife Ms Fardosa Mohammed Abdi were charged with being in possession of two hand grenades on April 1, 2014 at Madina Apartments in Eastleigh Section 7.
They were also charged with being members of an al Shabaab terrorist cell operating in Kenya.
The prosecution said the two are suspected to be involved in terrorism and that on April 1, “they were found to be members of the al Shabaab after being found in possession of the two grenades which were meant to be used for terrorism activities.”
While opposing their request for release on bond, prosecutor Isaiah Mwiranga told the court that the two were needed to help trace the hidden explosives and that they may interfere with ongoing investigations.
Their lawyer Chacha Mwita claimed the defence would prove the “grenades were planted on the suspects.”
The prosecutor said the recovered weapons were part of a larger cache being sought in an on-going probe.
The prosecutor objected to a suggestion by Mr Mwita that the suspects have so far been cooperative and would not abscond if released.
“They remain a security threat to this country and its citizens and the application for bail is meant to defeat justice,” the prosecutor said.
He said officers from the anti-terrorism police unit were not yet through with investigations.
Magistrate Elena Nderitu said there were sufficient reasons to compel the court to detain the suspects until such a time those investigations are complete and to prevent them from interfering.
The case will be mentioned on April 17.
The cleric and his wife were arrested after police mounted a security operation in Eastleigh following a terrorist attack on March 31.
