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Westgate duo sentencing pushed to next week

Friday, October 23rd, 2020 00:00 | By
Westgate.

Two men that were found guilty of conspiracy to commit the terror attack that happened in 2013 at Westgate Mall will be sentenced next Friday.

Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi adjourned the sentencing of Ahmed Abdi and Hussein Mustafa to next week after the prosecution and the probation officer told the court that the Victim Impact assessment report was not ready.

Probation officer Peter Macharia told the court they have only been able to obtain nine statements and more victims are expected to give their statement today.

Westgate terror attack suspects (from left) Hussein Mustafa, Liban Omar and Mohamed Abdi, at Milimani Law Courts. Photo/PD/CHARLES MATHAI

The defence did not oppose the adjournment but raised the issue of Liban Abdullahi Omar who was later abducted after being set free.

Abducted

 Lawyers told the court that Omar who was acquitted by Andayi was abducted a day later by unknown gunmen who are alleged to be security officers when in the company of his sister.

 Prosecution Counsel Edwin Okello told the court they are aware of the incident and informed the court that investigations are ongoing into the same.

Okello however claimed there was no proof that it was the police who abducted him.

Magistrate Andayi advised Mbugua Mureithi, the lawyer for Liban to report the matter to Kenya National Commission on Human rights.

“The court has taken note of the issue and noted this is not the first time such a report is being made.

Lawyer Chacha Mwita has repeatedly told the court once an accused person has been released, he has to pass through ATPU where they spend several days and that most times the accused once released are not traced.

If at all this is true, the issue is very serious and should be taken up by KNCHR,” he said.

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