Shakahola cult: Pastor Mackenzie to remain in custody until December 22

Paul Mackenzie, the main suspect in the Shakahola massacre, and his 28 co-suspects will remain in custody until December 22, 2023 when the court will rule on the state's application seeking to have them detained for 180 more days pending charge.

In the application, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jami Yamina listed several compelling reasons for detention pending the completion of investigations and argued that since the respondents pose a suicide risk, detention is the least restrictive measure pending the completion of investigations and charges.

According to the prosecution, the terrorism laws allow for up to 360 days of lawful detention pending completion of investigations and that parliament. In its wisdom, it extended the days from 90 days to 360 days to accommodate complex cases.

Jami also opposed the release of six out of 29 Shakahola suspects as recommended in the social inquiry reports conducted by the Probation and Aftercare Services department.

He told Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda that the suspects are required to undergo deradicalization before being reintegrated into the society and their family members have not provided explanations as to how the six will not harm themselves.

Over 420 bodies of Mackenzie’s doomsday cult, where followers were urged to starve themselves to death in order to ‘meet Jesus’  have been exhumed.