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Malindi businessman detained over al Shabaab links
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    Thursday October 20, 2022
    By ALPHONCE GARI

    Businessman Omar Mshamu at the Malindi law courts on Tuesday Image: ALPHONCE GARI

    The court has ordered five-day detention of a prominent Malindi businessman over terror-related allegations.

    Omar Mshamu from Ngomeni was arrested at his home by the Anti-Terror Police Unit officers who were investigating him for various crimes including suspected involvement in recruiting youth to Somalia.

    The suspect appeared before Malindi principal magistrate Olga Onalo but was not charged after the ATPU filed an application seeking  20 days to complete their investigations.

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    The application filed by ATPU Malindi chief inspector Nicholas Waringa urged the magistrate not to release the suspect, saying he might interfere with investigations given that he is an influential man.

    Waringa said they were investing the suspect in the alleged trafficking of persons, facilitating recruitment of members to a terror group and operating an NGO illegally.

    The chief inspector told the court that during the arrest found several photocopies and original ID cards in Mshamu's possession and they are investigating whether he has links with al Shabaab.

    Mshamu’s advocate Abubakar Yusuf told the court to dismiss the application as it lacked merit. He challenged the DPP to clearly state the preferred charges before seeking to hold the suspect for more days.

    The lawyer said for such an application to succeed there must be a holding charge but there was none that had been brought to court.

    “It is clear the police want to use the Terrorism Prevention Act 2012 to deny my client his rights,” he told the court.

    Mshamu told the court that he had volunteered to assist the police with investigations.

    He told the magistrate that during his interrogation by the ATPU he explained how he helps the community by funding education and giving relief food.

    The businessman said he was aware that some of his enemies were behind the move to have him arrested as they were not happy with his philanthropy

    The magistrate will rule on the matter on Friday, October 21, 2022.

    The court was packed with residents of Ngomeni and Malindi who had come as a show of solidarity with the businessman. Later several MCAs came in to see him.

    Addressing journalists after the ruling Hadija Omar from Ngomeni said they were saddened by the arrest of the businessman.


    “He really helps widows and educates orphans. He also provides relief aid to us as a community and we urge his enemies to stop it tormenting him for our sake,” he said.


    She said detaining Mshamu would create more problems as they will be unable to educate their children in his absentia.


    Rukia Mzee, another resident said Mshamu's enemies are  behind his arrest because they were not happy with his good deeds to the Ngomeni community.


    “We are praying to God to punish the one who has subjected Mshamu's to his detention,” she said.


    Firdhaus Mohamed, a resident said everyone from Ngomeni knows how Mshamu has empowered their community.


    “We want the government to do justice we have heard in court that he is recruiting youth to join al Shabaab that is not true,”she said.


    (Edited by Tabnacha O)
     

     





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