Philip Muyanga
7 October 2008
Nairobi — A sailor's welfare association boss arraigned in court last week over remarks on a ship hijacked by Somali pirates was on Tuesday released on bail.
Mr Andrew Mwangura, the East Africa Seafarers Assistance Programme coordinator, was released on a Sh200,000 bond with a surety in similar amount. He is also accused of being found in possession of bhang.
Mr Mwangura is alleged to have published a false statement that the military hardware on hijacked mv Faina was destined for Southern Sudan.
He has also denied being found with four rolls of bhang on September 28 at Diamond Arcade building in Mombasa.
He asked senior resident magistrate Teresia Mwangi, through lawyer Francis Kadima, to refer the matter to a constitutional court saying his rights were violated for being held by the police for more than three days.
He said the police were supposed to hold him for only three days.
Mr Mwangura said he was not taken to his house or any destination for the recovery of items sought by investigators for the five days he was held in custody contrary to what the prosecution had applied for.
Prosecutor Joseph Bahati opposed the application saying it was too early to refer the matter to a constitutional court.
"We are yet to begin the hearing of the case; investigators will be at the witness box to explain what had transpired over the five days the accused was in remand," said Mr Bahati.
Ms Mwangi will make a ruling on Mr Kadima's application on October 13.
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