Blast: Court wants evidence
2003-07-22 16:10
Nairobi - A Kenyan court on Tuesday gave police two weeks to produce evidence against five people charged with murder over a suicide bombing at an Israeli-owned hotel near the coastal city of Mombasa last year.
Nairobi's chief magistrate Aggrey Muchelule said the five had a right to a speedy trial because they were not eligible for bail.
"I ask the investigating officer to come to court on August 5 to explain what he has done so far," he added.
The defence complained about the lack of progress in the trial and urged the court to release the defendants, who were once again remanded in custody.
"They have been in custody for a long time," said defence lawyer Karathe Wandugi.
Police prosecutor Murithi Mate said investigations aimed at unearthing more evidence against the accused had not been completed.
"It is not an easy task... the evidence has to be gathered," he said.
Four of the accused - Salmin Mohamed Khamisi, father and son Mohamed Kubwa and Mohamed Kubwa Seif, Said Saggar Ahmed and Aboud Rogo Mohamed - were charged on June 24.
The fifth man, Salmin Mohamed Khamisi, was charged on July 8.
The car bomb attack on the Paradise Hotel north of Mombasa on November 28 last year killed 12 Kenyans and three Israelis. Three bombers are presumed to have died in the blast, blamed on Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.