Al Shabaab ‘linkman’ in Nairobi charged in court
A man suspected to be the linkman of the Al Shabaab terror group has been charged with collecting rent and wiring money to operatives in Kismayu, Somalia.
Mr Edward Oyoo Keya, however denied the three counts of dealing with property owned or controlled by terror group in Nairobi, providing intermediary services and availing money to terrorists collected from properties suspected to be owned by them.
The prosecution led by state counsel Rose Tum said Mr Keya collected rent from a house owned by his mother, Keya Stella Awuor, then sending it to his brother, Eric Achayo Ogada alias Ibra Salim Erico, through a contact, Aisha Abdalla Hussein who is based at Kismayu.
The prosecution submitted that the house in question is either owned by the terror group or is controlled by the terrorists.
REMANDED
According to the charges read out to the accused by the chief magistrate Mr Francis Andayi, the accused wired the money to his brother through a telephone number 00252619834425 which at the time belonged to Ms Hussein.
The accused also allegedly collected the rent which he sent to Ms Hussein on diverse dates between June 2015 and December 2016.
Mr Keya denied the charges and appealed for release on bond an application that was opposed by the prosecution.
The magistrate ordered that the suspect be remanded until February 23, 2017 when he will be produced in court for further directions.
