The case of five Egyptians who have been charged with being unlawfully present in Kenya in a Chuka court, took a new twist after the prosecution changed the charge sheet to include a second count of illegally operating business in the country.
Abdel Rahman, Rammy Mohamed, Abdallah Assarah, Fovad Ezzat and Zachsul Fatmy were arraigned before Chief Magistrate John Njoroge on December 3, 2019 charged with being unlawfully present in Kenya.
On the said date, the court heard that the five were arrested at Kairuni market in Maara Sub County for being suspicious after a tip off from members of the public.
Through Akida Rajab, an Arabic interpreter, three of them argued that their passports were detained at Chogoria Police Station upon arrest although none was produced in court while two others argued that their passports were detained at the Kiambu Law Courts where they have another case.
The court declined to release them on bail and ruled that their bond application would be considered upon production of their passport. They were detained at Chuka Police Station
On December 5, 2019 their passports were produced and Chief Magistrate Njoroge released them on bond of Sh100, 000 with a surety of a similar amount or a cash bail of Sh30, 000.
The Magistrate however warned them against leaving the country until the prosecutor who had asked for time for verification of the passports brings a report to the court for the case to continue.
On Tuesday, the prosecution applied for the accused to be detained for an additional ten days for the Anti -Terrorism Police from Isiolo to screen them and verify the validity of their passports from Immigration department.
The defense advocate Lucy Kaaria objected to the second application and called on the prosecution to table the same through a written document
Chief Magistrate Njoroge ordered for their passports to be detained for verification but their bond terms were extended until 19th of December when the ruling over their being ferried to Isiolo Anti-Terrorism Police offices for screening would be made.
By David Mutwiri
