Mombasa Law Courts. Photo: Omar Makanja/ hivisasa.com
Eighteen suspects were on Monday arraigned before the Mombasa Law Courts to answer to charges of being in the country illegally.
The suspects, who are said to be Somali citizens, were nabbed on March 4, at Mwembe Tayari in Mombasa.They were charged with being in the country without any proper documentation, contrary to section 53 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011.The suspects, through their lawyer Nyange Sharia, pleaded with the court to release three of the suspects who are minors.“I'm pleading to the honourable court to release three of the suspects from custody since they are minors, and hand over them to their relatives, pending further investigations,” said Nyage.In his ruling, Magistrate Gideon Kiage ordered the three minors to be taken to the Likoni Juvenile facility.The other 15 suspects will be remanded at Shimo la Tewa until March 8, when a status report is expected to be presented in court.