Suspect linked to Sheikh Idris Mohamed’s killing remanded

Mombasa, Kenya: A Mombasa court has remanded a suspect linked to the killing of Sheikh Mohamed Idris for 14 days to allow the police to investigate if he is involved in other terror activities in the town.

Sheikh Idris, a prominent moderate Muslim cleric, was gunned down as he prepared to enter a mosque in Likoni last Tuesday.

Mohamed Sudi Said alias Abu Osamah, who is also suspected to have attacked a church at Likoni and killed several faithful, was remanded in police custody by Chief Magistrate Maxswel Gacheru after police made a successful application.

Police, in a sworn affidavit, said the suspect was arrested along the Likoni-Ukunda Road between Likoni Ferry and Corner Police while riding a mountain bike and a pistol recovered after a search.

Police officer Osuri Otieno told the court that the suspect was arrested after they got a tip-off that he was in the process of giving out the pistol to another person.

“While police officers were investigating the death of Sheikh Mohamed Idris, they got a tip-off that the accused, who was an accomplice in the killing, was in the process of disposing a gun by handing it over to unknown person,” said Otieno.

Sudi has, however, denied being found in possession of a hand grenade without authority from an explosives officer. He also denied being in possession of a CD for the purpose of commission of a terrorist act.

Otieno told the court that they were investigating the suspect to find out if he was among the gunmen who killed Sheikh Idris.

The police said after being arrested, he was taken to his house where a hand grenade and some white crystals believed to be explosives were recovered.

Otieno said among the CD/DVD videos recovered from his house contained some clips on training and instigation of terrorism activities.

“I believe the accused has information which can assist me in my investigation into who were behind the killing of the Islamic preacher,” said Otieno.