Kenya probes suspected Al-Shabaab financier

Thursday, February 19, 2015

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MOMBASA, Kenya -- Kenyan police on Wednesday interrogated an Al-Shabaab financier in the coastal town of Lamu that had witnessed mass killings over 90 people between June and July last year.

The police said Mustafa Shebwana Mohamed was arrested by a team of anti terrorism police officers who were trailing him for months and is believed to be behind the recruitment of Kenya youth to the Al-Shabaab group in Somalia.

"We believe Mohamed is the link person between Kenya and Somalia whereby he recruits and ferry youth through the Somalia border to undergo military training in Somalia," a detective from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) told Xinhua.

Mombasa Chief Magistrate Stephen Riech on Wednesday granted police ten days to continue detaining the suspect at a police station in the coastal city.

Prosecuting Counsel Eugene Wangila applied for his continues detention to enable police complete their investigation. Wangila said the state is conducting complex investigation and his release might jeopardize the ongoing probe.

He disclosed that his seized mobile phone has been handed over to a team of cyber crime experts in Nairobi for data analysis.

"The nature of the offense requires more time to extensive investigation. It's our submission that we are granted ten more days to continue detaining the suspect at airport police station," said Wangila.

However his lawyer Yusuf Abubakar objected, saying the accused has constitutional right to be released on bond pending hearing and determination of the case.

While making his ruling the magistrate noted that the offense that is related to terrorism require more time for investigation.

"After considering the nature of the case and both applications, I hereby grant the police, ten more days to enable them to complete their investigation because of the sensitivity of the matter," Riech ruled.

The suspect is being accused of planning a major attack within Mombasa and Nairobi. Investigators have analyzed his communication gadgets and identified the suspect had on several times communicated with Somali Al-Shabaab militia group.

Kenya security apparatus have intensified border patrol and intelligence gathering to deal with terrorism threats.

On Tuesday, Mombasa county commissioner Nelson Marwa unveiled smart policing concept where security agents will use intelligence to apprehend individual criminals.

Marwa said individual criminals will now be the focus of police operations.

He told the media that security has been restored in the coastal city of Mombasa that witnessed wave of grenade and gun attacks

"We have managed to contain the security situation in tourist city. We have set up elaborate security measures to sustain the situation," said Marwa.

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