NAIROBI,Kenya, Nov, 27 – Sheikh Guyo Gorsa was arrested in 2018 by Anti Terror Police Unit (ATPU) officers and subsequently accused of being an Al-Shabaab operative, using his position as a religious leader in Marsabit county to recruit youth into the outlawed group as well as commissioning acts of terror.
On Friday the accused through his lawyer John Khaminwa sought an application to have his awaited judgment suspended expressing fear that if he is to be found innocent and released, he would shortly after be arrested and allegedly killed.
Appearing before magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot,Gorsa was set to discover his fate before his counsel stated his intention to first file a case at the high court against the state in light of the new revelations.
“The accused is certain that he will be acquitted of the offence but he is in fear including his relatives who are present in court that if he is acquitted he will be abducted and killed by the state” said Khaminwa
Khaminwa said that the orders he intends to receive from the high court will guarantee that his client will be safe at his home in Marsabit and not abducted by state agents if he is to be released.
“He told me Khaminwa I better stay in jail than be killed after my acquital ” he reiterated.
Recent incidents where suspected Al-Shabaab sympathisers have been arrested and denied their day in court is said to be reason the accused, Gorsa, sought the orders from the court.
He faces 11 counts of being a member of the Al-Shabaab as well as being in possession of articles used for the commissioning of terror acts in the country.
The judgment for the case was deferred to December,3,2021.
Sheikh Gorsa’s Arrest In 2018
The Marsabit based cleric was arrested in 2018 and accused of being a member of the Al-Shabaab terror group.
He was arrested at Madrassa Toba in the town.
His arrest saw nearly 400 youth engage police in running battles as violent protests erupted in Marsabit town. The protesters are alleged to have attempted to penetrate the area police station before being repelled.
Property worth millions of shillings were destroyed during the incident.
Gorsa was facing charges of conspiracy to commit terrorism, radicalisation, recruiting members to a terrorist group and membership to a terrorist group.
The prosecution at the time argued that each charge would be tantamount to 30 years in jail.
Police also sought some of his alleged associates who were accused of planning an attack in the country at the time.
Attempted Rescue And Attack At Milimani Law courts
Days after his arrested and scheduled arraignment, five suspects were arrested and accused of attempting to launch an attack at the Milimani Law courts in a bid to rescue Sheikh Gorsa.
Two of the suspects had been arrested at Merti, Isiolo County, while transporting a cache of weapons in a car embedded with improvised explosives, state prosecutors revealed.
Also confiscated by police were five AK-47 rifles and 36 fully loaded magazines, 36 unprimed hand grenades, 18 IEDs, three military knives, a black flag and other paraphernalia associated with the Al-Shabaab terror group.
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