Court dismisses Akasha lawyers’ request to bar ‘journalists’
Sons of the late Ibrahim Akasha and two foreigners appear before a court in Mombasa for the mention of their extradition case on June 20, 2016. A magistrate has dismissed their appeal to bar foreign journalists from covering the proceedings. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Lawyer Kirathe Wandugi said if the individuals were journalists, there was a need to know if they had been accredited since the suspects have a right to privacy.
An application by sons of slain drug baron Ibrahim Akasha and two foreigners to have foreign journalists barred from covering extradition proceedings against them has been dismissed.
Mombasa Chief Magistrate Julius Nang’ea rejected the application saying it is not the duty of the court to confirm the accreditation of foreign journalists.
Mr Nang’ea termed the application as premature noting there were other government agencies mandated to deal with the issue.
Through their lawyers, Mr Baktash Akasha Abdalla, Mr Gulam Hussein, Mr Ibrahim Akasha Abdalla and Mr Vijaygiri Anandgiri Goswami had raised concern over the presence of three people believed to be foreign journalists.
Lawyer Kirathe Wandugi said if the individuals were journalists, there was a need to know if they had been accredited since the suspects have a right to privacy.
“We are not against press freedom, we have foreigners in court, we want to know their justification in court,” said Mr Wandugi.
Lawyer Cliff Ombeta told the court that interest had been zeroed on Mr Goswami.
