Ishmael
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 18, 2011
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A Nairobi court has released on bail a senate staff,who was being held over alleged link with Al- Shabaab.
Milimani Resident Magistrate Edda Agade released Ali Abdul Majid Ahmed on a cash bail of Sh100,000 or a bond of Sh500,000 to secure his freedom before the Anti- terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) complete investigations.
Agade ordered him to be reporting to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) every Friday until the investigations by police are complete.
The prosecution had sought to keep him in custody further as it intensifies its search for evidence, but the Nairobi Magistrate's court insisted that the matter be heard in June 2 after investigations have been finalised.
"Freedom of liberty comes before detention and the court ought to strike a balance between liberty and detention. I will allow the police to detain the suspect for a further two days to wrap up their probe or release him on bail," Ms Agade said in her ruling.
She said the fact that police are giving protection and liberty to Kenyans, the constitution gives the suspect a right to seek for their freedom. She however noted that the country has suffered in the hands of terrorists due to numerous attacks in the past.
Ahmed, who is an Assistant Hansard Editor, has been in custody for 18 days.
He was placed in police custody on April 20 after he presented himself to the Pangani Police Station.
The suspect was allegedly held on "intelligence" reports that he may be a spy working for the Al-shabaab and may be used to facilitate an attack at the National Assembly.
Prosecutor Duncan Ondimu had urged the court to grant ATPU a further 10 days to complete analysing phone records linking him to an alleged plot to bomb Parliament but the court gave him only two days.
He said there were two situation reports linking Ahmed to terror activities and ATPU detectives were analysing his association with Ahmed Dugali, the owner of the car, which killed two police officers at Pangani police station.
Source: Standardmedia
