By Mkamburi MwawasiA close ally of slain Sheikh Sharif Abubakar alias Makaburi was yesterday charged with recruiting youths to al Shabaab.
Mohammed Ali denied that he recruited Abdalla Said, Swaleh Pesa, Swaleh Ahmed and Swaleh Juma at Masjid Musa, Mombasa county, on November 17.
Ali also denied robbery with violence charges and refuted allegations that on January 3 in the same mosque he robbed police officer Shemuro Athuman of a Sh10,000 spy pen.
Police accused Ali of being the new kingpin behind radicalisation of Muslim youths at the Coast, succeeding Makaburi in inspiring youths to fight against non-Muslims and security organs.
Ali was also denied harbouring youths with intent to commit a terrorist act and handling of stolen property.
On November 24, the police were given 10 days to conduct investigations against Ali.
His lawyer Gacue Gakuhi pleaded with the court to release him on bail pending determination of his case.
He said his client has been in custody for 12 days since he was arrested and as a Kenyan, had a right to be released on bond.
Gakuhi informed the court that for the 10 days police have been holding his client in custody, they should have completed their investigations.
He said the prosecution had not demonstrated that Ali would interfere with investigations if granted bail.
The lawyer said Ali will report to the investigating officer if needed for questioning.
However, prosecutor Ngina Mutua objected the application stating that investigations are still ongoing.
Ngina said police needed 14 more days to complete their investigations.
She said evidence were still being examined at the forensic laboratory in Nairobi.
Ngina said Abdallah was found with 15 DVDs believed to contain terrorism literature, a spy pen and a tape recorder allegedly stolen from an intelligence officer praying at Masjid Musa.
Ali was with Makaburi when he the controversial Muslim preacher was gunned down outside the Shanzu law courts on April 1.
He had gone to the courts to bail out dozens of youths arrested at Masjid Musa.
Ali survived the incident by taking cover in a nearby drainage system and pretending to be dead.
His bond ruling will be made on December 8.