Preacher charged over Al Shaabab

An Islamic preacher was Tuesday charged in a Mombasa court with being a member of Al Shabaab terror group.

Mr Khalid Mohamed was also charged with being in possession of explosives.
He also faced an alternative charge of stealing a car worth Sh1.2 million.

Mr Mohamed denied the charges before Mombasa Senior Principal Magistrate Richard Odenyo.

The court heard on May 26, the accused was found with one hand grenade, one plastic explosive and one detonator at his home without the authority of an explosives officer.

Prosecuting counsel Lydia Kagori said around 4am in Bondeni, Mombasa County, the preacher, knowingly, engaged in criminal activities by being a member of Somalia-based terror group, Al Shabaab.

IN CUSTODY

Defence lawyer Jeff Asige said Mohamed has been in custody since his arrest on May 23 until Tuesday when he was arraigned.
“How come the State is saying the accused had explosives yet he has been in custody? Or maybe he had the explosives while in custody. There is something fishy here and police should tell us,” said Mr Asige.

Mr Asige applied that his client be released on bond. “We are applying for a reasonable bond. The accused is constitutionally entitled to a bond because these allegations have not been proven,” he said.

Prosecutor Lydia Kagori however opposed the application and asked the court to give the police 30 days to complete investigations.

“We’ve filed an affidavit supporting our application. The court should not grant him bond because he is a flight risk considering the nature of the offence,” she said. The court ordered that the accused remains in custody until May 28 when a ruling on the bond application will be made.