There was drama at the Shimo la Tewa prison after four suspected drug lords who had been arrested while in possession of drugs and Sh 18.5 million in cash were released and re-arrested by the police immediately after a Shanzu Law court ordered them released due to lack of evidence.
The four Nabil Mohammed, Bakari Kali, Lilian Bernard and Stephen Mangira were grabbed by Anti-narcotics detectives as they left the court room at the Shimo La Tewa prison and bundled into waiting cars before they were later produced in court.
However, the court refused to release on bond two other suspects Swaleh Yusuf Kandereni and his wife Asma Abdalla Mohammed who were arrested with 15 kg of heroin valued at Sh 47 million after the prosecution said they were serial offender and a flight risk.
The four were arraigned before Shanzu Senior Principle Magistrate Diana Mochache and preferred with charges of money laundering.
The charges read that on unknown dates at Mombasa town with others not before court, engaged in agreement for purchase of motor vehicle registration number KBV 628K at an estimate cost of Sh 1 million while knowing the said money was proceeds of crime namely trafficking in Narcotic drugs whose effect was to conceal the source of the said money.
Mangira separately faced 10 other counts of engaging in money laundering on unknown dates.