MP Mohammed Ali withdraws surety for terror suspect

Nyali Member of Parliament Mohammed Ali has withdrawn a surety that he stood for a terror suspect arrested in 2016.

This comes barely two days after a Kwale Court issued a warrant of arrest against him after the suspect, Noordin Abdalla alias Kamada failed to show up in court more than a dozen times and the first time lawmaker couldn't explain his whereabouts.

Kwale Senior Principal Magistrate Joe Omido has since lifted the warrant of arrest against the MP that he issued on November 1 after the MP appeared in court on Wednesday.

Mr. Abdalla was arrested on Tuesday in Majengo, Mombasa, and was presented in a Kwale Court where he is facing 12 counts of terror related charges.

"The warrant of arrest issued against the surety, Mohammed Ali, is hereby lifted as the accused person has now been apprehended and brought before court,” the magistrate said.

“As the cash bail had not been forfeited, the same be refunded to the surety upon his discharge. The surety is allowed to withdraw and is discharged."

 Mr Ali, through his lawyer Titus Kirui, told the court that he only learnt about the court summons through the media and requested a mention of the case in the court, which was later accepted.

Pleading for the warrant of arrest against Mr Ali to be lifted, Mr Kirui also said that the MP had played a key role in ensuring that the suspect was apprehended.

"The surety was instrumental in tracing and having him arrested. He is present in court and wishes to withdraw his surety," Mr Kirui told the court on Wednesday.

Mr Hassan has been remanded at Shimo La Tewa Maximum Security Prison until November 18, when the case will be up for mention.