Dusit terror attack convict serving 30-year jail term seeks release on bail

According to the ODPP, the court convicted Mohamed Abdi Ali in May 2025 before handing down the sentence the following month for working with others in planning the deadly siege that left 21 people dead.

The 61-year-old convict has since moved to the High Court, asking to be freed while his appeal is being considered. Court records showed that he formally appealed in late June 2025.

State prosecutors, represented by counsel Duncan Ondimu, argued that the nature of the offences places the case in a category that demands caution.

They told the court that crimes linked to terrorist acts carry significant weight and that releasing the convict at this stage could undermine public confidence in the justice system as well as raise safety concerns.

The prosecution team further urged the court to fast-track the appeal instead of granting temporary bail, maintaining that a speedy hearing would better serve fairness and due process.

In opposing the request, the DPP’s office said the applicant had not shown he would suffer serious harm if he remained behind bars as the appeal proceeds. Prosecutors also indicated they are prepared to move ahead with the appellate process without unnecessary delays.

They additionally argued that the appeal documents presented so far do not point to a strong likelihood that the conviction will be overturned, describing the application as largely based on disagreement with the trial court’s conclusions.

The convict, however, filed the plea for release under urgency, citing health concerns and family circumstances as reasons for the court to allow him out on bond. 

The matter is scheduled for mention on February 28, 2026.