Most wanted Al-shabaab facilitator charged

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One of the most wanted Al-shabaab facilitators has been charged with conspiracy to commit a terrorist act and giving support to a terrorist group.

Francis Macharia Karishu was charged that jointly with others not before court conspired to carry out a terrorist act inside Kenya by embedding explosives in a motor vehicle thereby making it a vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).

The court heard that Karishu supported a gazetted terrorist group namely Al-Shabaab by making a forged Kenya National identity card bearing the name Jirma Huka Galgalo (deceased) who was a member of Al-Shabaab. He was also charged with forging the same ID.

Karishu who was arrested in Kayole area is alleged to have committed the offences on or before 15th February 2018 in Nairobi Central Business District in Nairobi County.

The accused denied the charges before Senior Resident Magistrate Helen Onkwani.

The prosecution objected the release of the accused person on grounds that the accused is facing very serious offences and is therefore likely to abscond.

The court further heard that Karishu’s three associates Abdimajit Hassan Adan, Mohammed Osman Nane and Anthony Kitila Makau have already been arrested and charged.

In the affidavit by an Anti-Terrorism Police Unit who is the investigating officer in the matter, on 15th February, police officers based at the Merti police station in Isiolo County while on patrol, spotted the motor vehicle with explosives and on approach, the occupants started firing at the police who returned fire killing one of the occupants.

During the shootout, some of the the other occupants escaped but police managed to arrest Adan and Nane (mentioned above) at the scene.

Upon searching the said vehicle, 5 AK47 riffles with 36 fully loaded magazines, 36 unprimed hand grenades, 7 projectile bombs-84mm, 40Kgs pipe bomb and a hotel room key for a hotel in Ngara area Nairobi were recovered.

His lawyer objected the application opposing bond but requested the court to grant him more time to go through the affidavit in order to make a proper response.

The case will be mentioned on 24th May 2018 for bond argument and consolidation with the other matter.

The police had put a Sh 1 million bounty on Karishu for anyone with information about him.