Photo: Elkana Jacob/The Star Abubakar Sharrif alias Makaburi, the suspected mastermind of last month's violent riots in Mombasa was yesterday released on a Sh1 million bond and two sureties.
Makaburi was charged with three counts of incitement before resident magistrate Elvis Michieka a week ago. He is accused of unlawfully uttering words which intended to bring death or physical injury.
In his last court appearance, prosecutor Peter Munguti asked the court to reject his application for bail through his lawyer Mbugua Mureithi. "The accused is a close friend to the murdered Sheikh Aboud Rogo. He should be remanded until investigations are complete," he said. Munguti told the court the suspect was likely to lead demonstrations in the city and interfere with ongoing investigations into the violent riots that followed the shooting of Rogo in Mombasa.
Youths took to the street to protest the killing of controversial Muslim teacher Rogo on August 27 on the Mombasa-Malindi highway. The riots turned violent with cars set ablaze, several churches burnt and vandalised. Makaburi allegedly said "Imam wote wanaounguna na serikali wachinjwe na pia polisi yeyote auwawe" (All clerics who cooperate with the police should be killed. All police should be killed)
He allegedly ordered the rioting youths to burn churches. A grenade was hurled inside a police lorry killing three prison warders. Magistrate Michieka ordered Makaburi be set free and told him to report to Makupa police station every Monday as a condition for his release. The police arrested 35 youth during the riots.
They were charged with two counts of taking part in unlawful assembly and taking part in riots. The youth were released on a Sh50,000 surety bond each by a Mombasa court.
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