Friday, August 05, 2016
By ALLOYS MUSYOKA
A former GSU officer charged with the killing of a reformed Somali returnee and Nyumba Kumi officials in Kwale has been released after paying Sh500,000 bond.
The suspect was arrested in Ngombeni on July 25 and found with a hand grenade. He was charged with handling the device without having a firearm certificate.
Alfan Rashid alias Juma Mwakambirwa denied the charge when he appeared in court under heavy police security on Friday.
“It is not true,” he said before Kwale principal magistrate Cosmas Maundu.
Rashid retired from the General Service Unit after serving for 12 years
He was among eight people wanted for allegedly being al Shabaab terrorists. The others were Ali Haji, Ali Salim, Said Athman, Said Hassan, Ali Hamisi, Ali Musa and Hamisi Musa.
Their photos were circulated on May 30 following reports that they had been recruited by the terror group to train other militants.
Police said Rashid's other mission was to kill state informers and security agents.
A special team of detectives earlier deployed in the South Coast had trailed him in vain for months.
Kwale OCPD, Patrick Oduma earlier told the media the suspect would assist detectives with information that would lead to the arrest of key al Shabaab members who are on the run.
Investigations followed the killing of reformed al Shabaab members Mohammed Juma, Juma Omar, Hassan Debe and Subira Sudi. They were all shot dead by gun-wielding attackers who were on a motorcycle.
The case will continue on November 14.