Suspected Al Shabaab sympathiser in Robert Alai case detained for 15 days

Suspected Al Shabaab sympathiser in Robert Alai case detained for 15 days

A suspected Al Shabaab sympathiser was on Thursday arraigned before a Nairobi court and detained for 15 days following a miscellaneous application by the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU).

Wilfred Kipkemei Maiyo, an Administration Police Inspector attached to Kahawa West AP Post, is suspected to have sent photos of police officers killed in the recent Wajir attack to blogger Robert Alai.

Appearing before Magistrate Sinkiyian Tobiko, the suspect urged the court to release him on bond terms saying he has no intentions of absconding trial since he willingly presented himself to the ATPU upon being summoned.

He further stated that he has been a long serving officer with the rank of an Inspector, adding that most of those who died in the attack were his colleagues hence he needed time to grieve.

The prosecution however stated that preliminary investigations so far indicated contact between the accused and the controversial blogger.

The court heard that he was arrested due to his possible involvement with terrorism activities and on suspicion of being an Al Shabaab sympathiser.

The intelligence report so far received by the State also reportedly indicate that the suspect had other associates who assisted him get the photos of the slain officers and the scene of the attack.

Hence, the court heard, forensic examination and interviews have to proceed as police officers are still in pursuit of those who took the pictures.

“Due to the nature of the respondent’s possible involvement in the planning of the terror attack, it shows they have the capacity and muscle to interfere with investigations, arrest of the associates and interfere with possible witnesses,” read courts papers.

Mr. Maiyo was arrested on Wednesday, upon which his mobile phone was recovered from him and forwarded to the ICT lab for exploitation and analysis.

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Al Shabaab ATPU robert alai Magistrate Sinkiyian Tobiko

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