Keriako Tobiko applies to have Al-Shabaab suspect tried in Mombasa

Kenya: The Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko wants the trial of a suspected Al-Shabaab member moved from Lamu to Mombasa.

The suspect, who was accused of killing two Kenyan soldiers in Lamu in May last year, is being held at Shimo la Tewa prison in Mombasa but his trial is in Lamu which is 400km away.

Mr Tobiko wants the trial moved to the Chief Magistrate's court in Mombasa on security grounds. The suspect is charged  at the lower court with robbery with violence and shooting the two soldiers to death.

Although he is not charged with murder he is facing the robbery charge under the Hanging Act, whose only sentence is hanging. State lawyer Peter Kiprop yesterday told Justice Mathews Emukule in Mombasa yesterday that the state wishes to transfer Mukdhar Said Jumaa's criminal case to Mombasa because the suspect was planning to escape while being transported to Lamu Law Courts.

"The accused is a high risk terror suspect who poses lots of danger to the police officers who guard him while being transported," said Mr Kiprop.

The accused, who is being represented by lawyer B A Olaba, denied that on May 25 at Milimani in Lamu East he supported the commissioning of a terrorist act and supplied the Al-Shabaab with assorted food stuffs.

In his ruling, Emukule ordered that the application be heard on March 23 before Justice Martin Muya. The suspect has also denied robbing corporal George Makhulo of a G3 rifle butt number 580 serial no 6932499 loaded with 20 bullets.