Man admits in court to being a member of the Al-Shabaab militant group. [Photo|chronicle.co.zw]
A 68-year-old man on Wednesday pleaded guilty before the court to being a member of the al-shabaab militant group.
Mr Balola Eleko Balola was facing terror-related charges and the court heard that he was arrested on December 12, last year in Amkeni, Lamu.
According to the police, the accused person on the material date was found with a pair of police trousers, a blood-stained jungle shirt, bullets and a gun.
The police alleged that the accused was arrested while wearing a jungle uniform similar to the one worn by security personnel.
The court heard that when the police searched Mr Balola, they also found ammunition and an ID card bearing the name Abdulla Kulia Gobu.
Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku heard that the accused person claimed to be a police reservist from Pandanguo in Lamu at the time of his arrest.
Mr Balola through an interpreter pleaded guilty to the charge of terrorism and admitted he was a member of the Al-Shabaab militant group.
The prosecution read the charge three times and the accused pleaded guilty claiming that he understood the charge.
Magistrate Thuku, however, postponed the verdict and sentence of the case due to failure by the police to present exhibits before the court.
The Magistrate who criticized the police for not presenting the exhibits in court said the case is very sensitive and delicate.
Magistrate Thuku postponed the case until January 5 when she will give her judgment.
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