MRC spokesman Mohammed Mraja's bail has been reduced to Sh1 million plus a surety of the same amount. The Shanzu Court in Mombasa, which initially had set Mraja's bond at two million shillings plus a similar surety, said the move was purely discretionary after listening to submissions by the defence. Senior Resident Magistrate Timothy Ole Tanju noted that Mraja's defence had stopped short of requesting for the same while complaining of alleged intimidation of would sponsors by the state.. Mraja's Lawyer Lumatete Muchai had earlier complained about what he called reckless statements by senior government officials, which implied that whoever pays the bonds would be considered an MRC sympathizer. However the Prosecution asked the court to dismiss the submission as a sideshow. The court was prompted to make a statement that any decisions it has made were independent of any external influence. Tanju added that by the same discretion, he chose to reduce Mraja's bail from two to one million shillings plus a surety of the same amount, and encouraged anyone willing to stand surety to do the same for Mraja. The case was adjourned to November 14th after a successful application by the prosecution.