State lines up 40 witnesses in Westgate terror case

By Fred Makana

Nairobi, Kenya: More than 40 witnesses are lined up to testify in the trial of four suspected terrorists believed to behind the Westgate Shopping Mall siege.

The four, Mohammed Ahmed Abdi, Liban Abdullah Omar, Adan Dheq and Hussein Hassan Mustafah were arraigned in court last week accused of carrying out the attack jointly with others not before court.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were ordered by court to remain in custody for seven days to allow police to complete investigations.

During the mention of the case yesterday, State Counsel Mungai Warui informed Nairobi Chief Magistrate Kiarie Waweru that the prosecution will require a week for all witnesses in the case to give evidence. He said the State seeks to expedite the case to its conclusion once it begins.

A heated exchange ensued between the accused’s lawyer Mureithi Mbugua and the prosecution over the possibility of the accused being granted bail.

Mbugua asked if the State is still opposed to the accused from being admitted to bail.

“At the time when the accused took their plea, the State asked for seven days to complete investigations and in the face of this application may the court admit the accused to bail,” Mbugua requested the court.

He further argued that it is the accused constitutional rights to be admitted to bail as the prosecution has so far not tabled any evidence before court to deny them bail.

However, the State Counsel strongly opposed any attempt to release the four on bail. He argued that police had sworn an affidavit against the suspects being granted bail on grounds that they are known international criminals.