Businessman charged with murder of 65 in Mpeketoni

Mpeketoni attack suspects Diana Suleiman (left) and businessman Mahadi Swaleh Mahadi at the Mombasa law courts, Wednesday. They denied the murder charges against them involving 65 people in Mpeketoni, Lamu County. [PHOTO: KELVIN KARANI/STANDARD]

Mombasa, Kenya: A Lamu businessman has been charged with the mass murder of 65 people in Mpeketoni between June 15 and 17.

Mahadi Swaleh Mahadi alias Jesus was arrested in Lamu town on Tuesday and taken to Mombasa overnight where the State opened 65 murder charges against him.

The State applied to consolidate Mahadi's charges with those of Diana Salim Suleiman, a driver charged with the alleged killing of dozens in the same massacre. The charges were consolidated, with State lawyer Alex Muteti applying to have them detained at Port Police Station in Mombasa.

Mahadi was yesterday evening charged in Mombasa before Justice Martin Muya. The judge said Justice Edward Muriithi would decide on the suspect's bond application.

DENIED CHARGES

Defence lawyer AB Olaba for Suleiman opposed the consolidation, saying it could jeopardise his client's trial as he is already out on a Sh500,000 bond.

Suleiman had been detained at Malindi Police Station in Kilifi County.

Mr Olaba said since Suleiman had been released by Justice Muriithi, it was fair if the orders to have both of them detained be heard by the same judge.

The two, brought to court under tight security, denied the murder charges.

The new consolidated charges state that among the people the two murdered were Stephen Karuki, Alex Mbugua, Elkana Matiwa, Jairo Kipkembo, Joseph Kinuthia, Amos Mbugua, Clement Karuri Otuke, Laban Okembo, Moses Mungai, Samuel Chuma Chai, Sammy Irungu, Antony Otieno, Bahati Chengo, Kahindi Karisa Masha, Benson Fondo and John Karuki.

The judge, who ordered the hearing to start on September 3, asked police to take the two suspects to hospital for mental examination to establish if they could stand a murder trial.

Mahadi's case, expected for mention today, will come up for another mention on July 16, when the court will get a report from the hospital on his mental health.

The prosecution is being presided over by six State lawyers who were all present during the plea that saw the two deny the charges.

In another development, 30 suspected members of Al-Shabaab were charged on various counts at the Garsen court in Tana River.

The suspects, who were among the 50 arrested since the attack, were also charged with being in possession of camouflage uniform suspected to have been stolen from the police.