Five suspects, including Canadian, in court over Dusit attack
The Anti-Terrorism Police Unit has been allowed to continue holding five people, among them a Canadian, suspected to have aided the terrorists who attacked 14 Riverside office complex in Nairobi where 21 people died.
The suspects include Joel Ng’ang’a Wainaina and Oliver Kanyago Muthee, both taxi drivers, Ms Gladys Kaari Justus, an Mpesa agent in Maua, Meru county, Mr Guleid Abdihakim, a Canadian and Osma Ibrahim.
While making the application before senior principal magistrate Martha Mutuku, the police said they have reasons to believe that the five, who were not required to plead, aided the terrorists.
The court heard that they were still conducting investigations, some of which required the investigating officer to travel to various parts of the country.
SERIOUS CHARGES
Ms Mutuku allowed the police to detain the suspects for 30 days saying the reasons given were valid. She added that the charges likely to be preferred against the suspects were serious.
In an affidavit filed in court, Inspector Monica Githaiga, the investigating officer, said they were likely to prefer charges of conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, provision of property and services for commission of a terrorist act and being members of a terrorist group.
The affidavit reveals that several gadgets were recovered from motor vehicle registration number KCN 340E, which the attackers are believed to have used on January 15, before the attack.
The items recovered in the vehicle include two mobile phones. One of the mobile phones had a SIM card and the other did not have. The police also recovered an extensively damaged laptop.
The items were taken for forensic examination and it was discovered that the mobile phone was registered in the name of Erik. The said identity card was allegedly used to register 11 other mobile phone numbers.
SIX MOBILE PHONES
One of the suspected attackers, Mr Ali Salim Gichunge alias Farouk is alleged to have registered three other mobile phones, while Ms Violet Kemunto Omwoyo allegedly registered six mobile phones.
Through prosecutors Duncan Ondimu and Eddy Kadede, the court was informed that they were still analysis data on the recovered items and needed more time.
The case will be mentioned on February 18.