The High Court in Nakuru has denied a Muslim cleric bail pending the hearing and determination of an appeal challenging his ten-year sentence.
Lady justice Maureen Odero said that the grounds of the granting bail to Sheikh Ali Samoja, who was found guilty of child sex tourism, were not convincing enough to the court.
“He is no longer a suspect but a convict and therefore he is not entitled to liberty and besides he was sentenced by a competent jurisdiction,” the judge said.
Samoja was sentenced by Resident Magistrate, Judicaster Nthuku on July 6 for facilitating the trafficking of a 15-year-old girl to Nairobi in July 2011 where she was reportedly defiled by a Lebanon national, Sayyid Muktadha who later fled the country.
Samoja’s lawyer, David Mongeri filed an appeal on July 15 at the High Court seeking bail before the appeal of his sentence saying the cleric's health is failing and he is at risk.
Justice Odero ruled that Sheik Samoja’s appeal would be heard under a certificate of urgency.
The date of the hearing will be set at a later date.