Suspects in Mandera clashes freed on bond

The suspects behind interclan clashes in Banisa, Mandera County, have been released on bond after 20 days in police custody.

The four suspects were freed on a bond of Sh200,000 each with a surety of a similar amount.

Mandera Principal Magistrate Peter Areri ordered the accused to report to police every Monday and Friday until investigations are concluded.

He also warned them against interfering with witnesses.

The suspects - Abbey Mohamed Omar, Rashid Noor Idris, Ahmed Osman Bulle (a teacher) and Muktar Rakaw Shobey (a teacher) - who were arrested on October 2, are accused of facilitating the dawn raid at Dohmal village that caused the deaths of 11 people.

Police through the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions had applied for custodial orders for 14 more days.

ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS

Prosecutor Robert Modoya said the 14 days sought would allow police carry out fingerprint and ballistic examination of two firearms recovered.

“Within the 14 days allowed by this court on October 4, we have recovered two AK47 rifles that are undergoing ballistic examinations, we need 14 more days to do thorough examinations including fingerprint analysis,” he said in an affidavit.

Mr Madoya added that the police intended to, with the help of Ethiopian authorities, make more arrests of suspects believed to be hiding across the border.

“We need more time to pursue more probable suspects and the nature of evidence linking them to the killings,” he said.

Police suspect that the two teachers planned, financed and incited the killings on October 1 at Dohmal village. The other two are accused of jointly using a motorcycle to transport the attackers to Dohmal, arriving a day early.

MORE TIME

“Owing to the complexity of the investigations that will involve local telecommunication service providers, and registrar of persons as well as cross border police to assist in arresting suspects hiding in Ethiopia, we need 14 more days to conclude investigations,” reads the affidavit.

But the defence lawyer Hussein Ahmed Wethow opposed the application arguing that his clients had been in police custody long enough.

He termed continued holding of the suspects as an infringement of their rights.

“My clients are willing to be coming to the police station every day for the next 14 days for investigation purposes,” said Mr Wethow.

Mr Areri, while releasing the suspects, observed that they had not breached any condition for their release.