NAIROBI, Kenya
Four Somalis have appeared in a Nairobi Court on twenty charges related to a terrorist attack.
The Somalis denied the charges through two Nairobi lawyers, Abdi Hassan and Chacha Mwita.
After denying, Mwita rose up and told Nairobi Chief Magistrate, Doreen Mulyeko that the defendants have the right to be granted bail.
Mwita’s colleague, Hassan echoed similar sentiments. But prosecutor Fridah Mwanza submitted that the Somalis were foreigners, rather than Kenyan citizens as they claim.
“The accused are foreigners and can still commit similar crimes if released on bail,” she said.
The magistrate remanded the Somalis in custody until February 12 when they will be informed whether or not the court will release them on bail pending hearing at a date yet to be set.
The Somalis are Hassan Abdi Mohammed, Mohammed Osman Ali, Ilyas Yusuf Warsame and Garad Hassan Fer.
Three of the charges against them allege that they illegaly entered Kenya, registered as Kenyans and possessed explosives.
The brief appearance in Court of the four Somalis comes shortly after the postponement to next month of the trial of four other Somalis alleged to have assisted terrorists that attacked the upscale Westgate Shopping Mall, west of Nairobi in September last year, resulting in the death of sixty-seven people.
By James Shimanyula - Anadolu Agency
englishnews@aa.com.tr
