Embakasi blast: Four Somali suspects seek review of bail terms

Tuesday June 10, 2014

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NAIROBI (Xinhua) -- Four Somalis charged with a terrorist attack at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) now want to drop an application for the reduction of their bail terms.

The four had moved to High Court seeking a reduction of the bond of 228,000 U.S. dollars each and two sureties of similar amount, which had been imposed by the court.

When the case came up for mention on Monday before trial Magistrate Helena Ndungu, the court was informed that their file was still pending at the High Court.

Their defense lawyers Mureithi Mbugua and Chacha Mwita, however, said their clients now wished to drop the application in the High Court. This, they said, will enable them proceed with the trial.

The hearing of the case was fixed for Aug. 4.

The four Somalis were charged four months ago over suspicion of masterminding the attack at a restaurant.

Police had initially said the explosion was caused by a bulb.

The four have denied the allegations.

They are Hassan Abdi Mohamed, Mohamed Osman Ali, Yusuf Warsame and Garad Hassan Fer.

They are alleged to have been found with explosives on Jan. 16 at Shauri Moyo trading centre.

A bullet riddled body of a man thought to be their accomplice was found in a vehicle within the area.

Police had said the vehicle was sprayed with bullets while speeding from the airport soon after the blast.

Anti terrorism police unit officer, Leonard Bwire had in an affidavit saying the four acquired Kenyan identification documents fraudulently and had been sneaking in and out of Somalia at will.

He claimed that their goal was either to train with the Al- Shabaab or to bring explosives to Kenya.

He said that the Anti Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) has information that the terrorist attack at the Java Restaurant within the JKIA on Jan. 16 was planned and executed by the suspects together with others who are yet to be arrested.

Bwire also revealed that the suspects led police officers to their residences in Ushirika Estate within Eastleigh where an inventory of the items recovered was made.

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