ATPU detectives re-arrest suspect over links with Al-Shabaab
Detectives told the court that his phone had been sent to the ATPU headquarters in Nairobi for forensic analysis
A suspect who was arrested in 2017 for being a member of a terror group and in possession of articles connected with the commission of a terrorist act has been re-arrested.
Ramadhan Mohammed Hassan was re-arrested by detectives from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) Mombasa over the same offence of being a suspected member of Al-Shabaab.
Detectives revealed that he was also found in possession of articles connected with the commission of a terrorist act contrary to section 30 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2012.
The suspect, who was arrested in the Kichangii area of Nyali, Mombasa County, last Thursday, and was presented in court yesterday.
The detectives requested the court to allow them to continue holding the suspect for 14 days as investigations are on.
They told the court that the suspect’s phone had been sent to the ATPU headquarters in Nairobi for forensic analysis in the cyber forensic laboratory.
“The Respondent’s phone, OPPO A16 fitted with a Safaricom and Airtel Sim Cards has been escorted for forensic analysis in the Cyber Forensic Laboratory at ATPU headquarters in Nairobi,” detectives told the chief magistrate at the Mombasa law courts.
The investigating authorities will be ‘cracking’ the suspect’s phone to obtain details and call data records, as he is believed to be in constant communication with extremists in Tanzania and Somalia.
“Our team, together with other stakeholders, needs time to liaise with the Tanzanian Embassy to arrest Al Farooq and other associates believed to be in hideouts in Tanzania. Ramadhan is suspected to be in constant communication with extremists in Tanzania and Somalia,” the affidavit sworn by the detectives stated.
Further, they requested that the suspect, who is a flight risk, should not be freed as he is not a first-time offender.
Details at the Shanzu Law Courts in Mombasa indicate that Ramadhan was previously arrested in 2017 and was convicted to two years under probation.
Ramadhan was convicted after he was charged with the same offences for which he has been arrested again.
