KENYA: COURT FINDS TWO GUILTY FOR DEADLY 2013 WESTGATE ATTACK
A Kenyan court has pronounced two men guilty of helping Al Qaeda linked fighters attack a the Westgate shopping Mall in Nairobi, Kenya.
Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi who pronounced their verdict, declared the two guilty of "conspiracy", "support" or "possession of objects in connection with a terrorist act."
A third defendant was acquitted by the court and walked home free.
The two convicted felons are Mohamed Ahmed Abdi and Hussein Hassan Mustaffah, while the acquitted person is Liban Abdullah Omar.
The judgement is coming seven years after the horrific 2013 Al Shabab attack on Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya's capital. The attack lasted for 4 horrific days. -From Saturday, September 21 to Tuesday, September 24, 2013, leaving at least 67 persons dead.
One of the convicted felons, Mohamed Ahmed Abdi taught Islam in Nairobi. Investigations revealed that he spoke to the Alshabab terrorists for up to 226 times within the space of three months. Authorities also found in his possession a computer with videos which captured footage of people calling for Jihad. Mohamed, however, claimed the terrorist was his brother-in-law, and the computer did not belong to him.
Hussein Hassan Mustaffah, the second convicted felon is a Somali refugee who resides in Kenya. Investigations revealed that he also had numerous phone conversations. On his part, Hussein claimed he was talking to his childhood friend.
The two were found guilty. Francis Andayi said the evidence that the parties knew and established numerous contact with the terrorists was sufficient to remove any doubt.
Their sentence would be pronounced on October 22, and the prosecutor is pushing for a maximum sentence.
The third defendant, who was acquitted is Liban Abdullah Omar. Although he also had numerous conversions with a member of the Al Shabaab terrorist, his claim that he was talking with his brother was admissible by the court, and he was allowed to walk home free after spending 7 years in prison.
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