A footballer from Malawi is facing charges of terrorism after he was allegedly found sketching the Mombasa SGR terminus. [PHOTO/standardmedia.co.ke]
A Malawian footballer is facing charges of terrorism after he was allegedly found sketching the Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway
terminus.
According to police reports, the suspect intended to use the sketch to commit an act of terrorism.
Police also said he took photographs of the station, with a train and himself after arriving at the terminus from Nairobi.
Kristen Kishombe who was unrepresented in court appeared before Chief Magistrate Julius Nang'ea where he denied the charges.
He however told the court that it was normal for a passenger to take photos aboard the train.
"I am a football player and I only had the sketch of the terminus out of excitement since I had never seen the SGR in my life," he explained.
"If taking photos around the terminus was illegal, the security officers would not have allowed me do that. I feel the police just want to implicate me with issues of terrorism and I have never been in any terrorist group," he said.
"This information given to the court is just meant to put me in hot soup. No Malawian has ever been involved in terrorism and I also have documents showing that I am in Kenya legally," added Kishombe.
Upon a request by the prosecution, the magistrate allowed police to hold him in custody for seven days before he appears again on September 7.