A court in Mombasa on Friday granted Sh10 million bond and two sureties of similar amount to four Kenyans arrested for trafficking 9,628 grammes of heroin worth over Sh28 million into the country.
Ahmed Said Bakar, Clement Sege Bristol, Mohamed Bakari Mohamed, Sharifu Mzee Mohamed and Ahmed Hussein Salim face two counts of trafficking 2,028 grams heroin worth Sh6,084,000 concealed in a false black suitcase in a car.
The five suspects, who have been in custody for four months pending their bond application ruling, were also charged with trafficking 7,600grammes of heroin with a market value of Sh22,800,000 concealed under the water tank of Baby Iris Yatch.
The five were arrested at a boat yard in Mnarani, Kilifi County, on April 9.
However, the court declined to grant bond to the fifth suspect who is from Seychelles on grounds that he is a flight risk.
Chief Magistrate Julius Nang’ea said the second accused, Clement Sege Bristol, had failed to provide any documents to show he has residence, business or family in the country.
Nang’ea said he had granted bond to the four Kenyans after considering all the relevant documents provided by the state and was satisfied that indeed they are Kenyans with family, relatives and place to stay in Kenya.
“I have considered the submissions from both sides and I consider the four accused one, three, four and five are Kenyans, therefore, I grant them a Sh10 million bond with two similar sureties. However, the second accused from Seychelles, the court has established he is a foreigner with no fixed place of stay in Kenya,” said Nang’ea.
The surety for the four has to be approved by the court and they have to deposit their passports with the court until further determination of the case.
But Jared Magolo, Bristol’s defense lawyer, said that there were no regulations that foreigners cannot be granted bond and the court ought to be concerned if he will attend court.
He said the court should interview the surety to gauge if he will be able to pay bond and attend court.
The trial was set for July 29.
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