Briton facing multiple charges leaves jail as bail controversy looms

By Willis Oketch

Mombasa, Kenya: British terror suspect Jermaine Grant, who was jailed for two years in 2011 for being in the country illegally, is now a free man after completing his sentence.

His lawyer told The Standard that Grant finished his two-year jail term less than two months ago, after a Mombasa court sentenced him.

Although he still faces serious criminal charges in Nairobi and Mombasa his release on May 20 is presenting a new legal challenge to the authorities in both towns after his lawyer lodged a bid in the High Court to have him released on bond.

Significantly, his co-accused in these more serious charges are out on bond although one of them Fuad Abubakar who jumped bail is believed to be fighting alongside Al Shabaab terrorists.

Grant’s lawyer Chacha Mwita now says that all the crimes his client is charged with are bailable without discrimination but State lawyers insist that Grant who has been linked to Al Shabaab might flee the country because he is a foreigner.

Robbery charges

On Friday the magistrate’s court denied bail over the charge of possession of a bomb.

But yesterday Mwita announced that “we are considering going to the High Court to appeal against the decision of the lower court to deny him bond.”

According to the lawyer, Grant who is also facing robbery with violence charges in Nairobi is “not a convict but a remandee.”

Experts say Grant can be released on bond under strict conditions if the High Court exercises its discretion because he has not been committed to jail over the two charges.

Grant, his wife Warda Breik and Frank Ngala have denied that on December 20, 2011, they were found in possession of explosive materials used for making bombs.

Breik is out on a bond of Sh20 million while Ngala is still in remand after failing to raise the same amount.

On Friday Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Jacob Ondari argued Grant should not be let loose because he can flee like his co-accused Fuad.