Heroin haul suspects have case to answer, Mombasa court rules
The four suspects behind a Sh28.8 million heroin seizure at Kilindini port three years ago seen in court in 2016. A Mombasa court has ruled that they have a case to answer. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Nang’ea did not disclose reasons for arriving at the decision.
- The magistrate said the details will be given later when delivering the final judgment.
- The are accused of trafficking heroin worth millions of shillings.
Four Kenyans and a Seychelles national behind a Sh28.8 million heroin seizure at Kilindini port three years ago have a case to answer, a court has ruled.
Mombasa Chief Magistrate Julius Nang’ea ruled that the prosecution had established a case against the suspects.
“I have analysed the evidence on record, submissions by the suspects and the prosecution and finds that a prima facie case has been established against the accused that warrants them to be put on their defence,” the magistrate ruled.
Mr Nang’ea did not disclose reasons for arriving at the decision, saying the details will be given later when delivering the final judgment.
REASONS
“As the normal practice of this court, full reasons will be disclosed later. The court cannot give the reasons at the moment because doing so would portray the court as having made a decision on the matter before hearing the accused,” he added.
Ahmed Said Bakar, Clement Sege Bristol (Seychellois), Mohamed Bakari Mohamed, Sharifu Mzee Mohamed and Mr Ahmed Hussein Salim are accused of trafficking heroin worth millions of shillings.
They have denied committing the offence on April 9 and 20, 2015 at boat yard in Mnarani, Kilifi County.
The suspects have asked the court to acquit them, arguing that the prosecution has failed to directly link them to the offence.
The case will be heard on July 13.
