A Wajir Court on Wednesday ordered for the release of two suspects facing terror charges after Al-Shabaab militants attacked a bus in Wajir.
Musa Hussein Ramadhan and Sadiq Abdullahi Issack who were the driver and conductor of the Medina bus that was attacked on December 6, 2019, were accused of allegedly being involved in the attack.
During the attack, 11 passengers who included eight Anti-Stock Theft Unit officers from Mandera, a doctor, a teacher and a civilian were killed by the militants.
The investigating officer had asked Wajir Senior Resident Magistrate Amos Makoros to detain the two suspects in police custody arguing that they are a flight risk and they are connected to Al-Shabaab.
The court heard that if the two are released on bond, they are likely to escape to Somalia adding that they will interfere with witnesses in the case.
Magistrate Makoros however dismissed the application and ordered that the two suspects be released on bond saying they are permanent residents of Wajir and are well known.
Makoros further said that the prosecution failed to give compelling reasons why the suspects who have no known criminal records should be denied bond.
“As rightly pointed out by the defence counsel, bond is now a matter of right guaranteed by our Constitution and the only time the same can be curtailed is when compelling reasons are raised,” Makoros said.
“I reiterate that compelling reasons must be furnished to the court if an accused is to be denied bond and in this instance this has not been done,” the magistrate added.
The two were released on a Sh 3 million bond each with surety and the case will be heard on February 3 and 4, 2020.