Mombasa Court fines man Sh3000 over breach of Covid-19 guidelines

Mohamed Salim Mohamed (centre) accompanied by his lawyer George Igunza (left) and Nyali MP Mohamed Ali at a Mombasa Court in Mombasa County on May 20, 2020, where he pleaded guilty to the charges of engaging himself in a prohibited gathering flouting public health guidelines. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]

A Mombasa-based businessman and politician was yesterday fined Sh3,000 by Shanzu Law courts for flouting social distancing rules.

Mohamed Salim Mohamed alias Tenge was charged with two counts; organising a public gathering and failure to maintain social distancing. He, according to the prosecution, did this contrary to the Public Health Act and Covid-19 restrictions.

Tenge pleaded guilty to the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Florence Macharia. He was accused that on May 18, 2020, at Majengo Kanamai, in Kilifi South, jointly with others not before the court, he engaged in the crime whilst distributing food.

In mitigation, Tenge, through his lawyer Mark Igunza, said he was unable to control the crowd but still had official authorisation documents from the authorities.

“The accused has been instrumental in helping the underprivileged. He has distributed more than 24,000 liters of sanitisers and over 150,000 masks at the Likoni Ferry Channel,” said Mr Igunza.

The magistrate acquitted him on the first count and fined him Sh3,000 or serve a month in jail.

“I have considered the mitigation and the application by the prosecution. Accused is acquitted on count one but fined Sh3,000 or 30 days in jail for count two,” said Macharia.