State drafting indictment for Kisenyi terror suspects

Dec 07, 2014

The State is drafting the indictment report for the 10 Al-Shabaab-linked terror suspects arrested in September in the city suburb of Kisenyi.


By Andante Okanya

KAMPALA  - The State is drafting the indictment report for the 10 Al-Shabaab-linked terror suspects arrested in September in the city suburb of Kisenyi, Buganda Road Court in Kampala has been informed.

 State prosecutor Edward Muhumuza informed court presided over by Grade One Magistrate Araali Muhirwa of the development.

The suspects – nine Somali nationals and a Kenyan – had appeared in court for mention of their terror case. Muhirwa was sitting in for Simon Zirintuusa, who is on leave.

Muhumuza requested for an adjournment, saying the State was compiling the report to be used during trial at the High Court.

“Inquiries are not complete. We pray that the accused stay remanded to enable the State prepare committal papers for trial at the High Court,” said the prosecutor.

Lawyers David Mushabe, Richard Rugambwa, and Andrew Manzi, represented the suspects.

They are battling charges of aiding and abetting terrorism contrary to Section 8 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2002. On conviction, the penalty is death.
 

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Additionally, they are charged with the offence of belonging to a terrorist organisation contrary to Section 11(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2002.

Procedurally on completion of the probe, the Police informs the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which notifies court of the development by formulating an indictment.

The committal papers containing the indictment are then forwarded to the High Court, which has jurisdiction to try the capital offence of terrorism.

The Magistrate’s Court only has powers to mention such cases, during which suspects are informed of the progress of the investigations.

The suspects are Mohamed Abdulkdir Hirsi alias Mohamed Abdul Aziz Adan, 31, Abdi Abdullahi Bootan, 26, Hassan Abduwali Mohamoud, 25, Mohammed Ahmed Gele, 28, Yasimin Abdullahi Aden, 20, Hodan Ahmed Dahir, 23, Yusufu Osman Hussein, 29, Abdi Mohamed, 29, and Abdul  Kadir,24.

The Kenyan national is 31-year-old Mohamed Yusuf Farah. Kisenyi is home to numerous Somali refugees.

The suspects appeared calm and smiled at their relatives and friends who filled the court room. When the session ended, the relatives and friends flocked to the holding cells to visit.

Court is scheduled to reconvene on December 19.The suspects were remanded to Luzira Prison till then.

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