Nairobi News

A Muslim scholar found in possession of video clips of a police training college has been remanded in prison custody awaiting trial.

Mr Mohammed Abdi Adan, a graduate of Sharia Law from Dharal Olum University of Mogadishu in Somalia,  was allegedly found in possession of an external storage device with video clips of the Administration Police Training College (APTC), Embakasi, likely to be used by terrorists to unleash terror.

Senior Principal Magistrate Joseph Karanja heard that “the information was intended for commission of terrorism acts in the country.”

National Security

Prosecutor Charles Wanjohi informed the magistrate that Mr Adan was a threat to national security and that he had to be in custody until the case filed against him was determined.

Mr Adan, 29, who returned to the country in 2009 after undergoing university education — where he majored in Sharia law — was arrested from Olesauli building in Fedha Estate by Anti-Terrorism Police Unit officers during the ongoing swoop aimed at bringing criminals to book.

Mr Wanjohi told the magistrate the police raids had netted thousands of suspects some of whom were repatriated to their motherlands for lack of identification documents.

The  prosecutor said Mr Adan posed a great “threat to national security and should be detained in a high security prison pending the outcome of his trial.”

Mr Karanja allowed the prosecution’s request to  have the suspect detained. But in his brief ruling the magistrate said: “It is in the public interest that the suspect remains in prison custody since individual rights cannot outweigh public good.”

The court also took judicial notice of the recent terrorism activities in the country and said if released on bond, Mr Adan could jeopardise the trial or even jump bail.

Mr Adan was  charged with collection of Information, contrary to Section 29 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (No 30) of 2012 after police arrested him on March 2 with video clips of the APTC intended for acts of terrorism.