Westgate terror suspect denied bail amidist fears of fleeing Kenya

Friday, October 18, 2013

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An Al-Shabaab suspect linked to the Westgate attack has been denied bail by a Mombasa court.

Police fear Swaleh Abdalla, who is also suspected to have killed four Kenyan jihadists in Somalia sometime back, can flee the country if freed on bond. They say he belongs to Al-Shabaab and could flee to its strongholds in Somalia the same way another terror suspect, Fuad Abubakar Manswab, who was facing charges alongside British terror suspect Jermaine Grant did.

Abdalla has been in detention since last week after police arrested him at Likoni in Mombasa and charged him with possession of explosives.

Anti-Terror Police Unit Corporal Bernard Mudavadi told Mombasa Senior Principal Magistrate Richard Odenyo that they were apprehensive Abdalla could cross over to Somali if released.

Prosecutor Chief Inspector Simon Waithaka said Mudavadi had sworn an affidavit asking the court to deny Abdalla bond as he was a flight risk.

“We wish to oppose the release of the suspect as there are compelling reasons that the accused can jump bail,” said Waithaka.

Abdalla, who is suspected to have killed four jihadist recruits from Central Province after they rebelled, is facing 30-year jail term if convicted.

He denied that on October 10 this year at Likoni he was found in possession of one hand grenade while preparing to commit felony.

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