The prosecution team handling self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie’s case on Friday asked a Mombasa court to allow the State to detain the suspect, and six other co-accused persons, for a further 90 days to allow for completion of investigations.
The prosecutors made the plea before Shanzu Law Court Principal Magistrate Yusuf Abdallah Shikanda on the grounds that the seven suspects might interfere with investigations and come into harm’s way upon release.
“We will not let this matter to conclude in mob justice because the respondents deserve their day in court and to be dealt with in accordance with the constitution and enabling laws,” said the prosecution.
“With the limited resources that are being directed towards the Shakahola investigation it may not be possible for each of the respondents to be given 24/7 security. It is proportionate to keep them safe in detention.”
The prosecutors also argued that there was no guarantee that the suspects would stop radicalising Kenyans with extreme religious ideologies once freed.
They likewise wanted the suspects detained to allow for police identification procedures in which criminal suspects are shown to victims and witnesses to determine whether they can be identified as the perpetrators of the crimes accused against them.
“The first respondent has been convicted before on his own plea of guilty and fined by court of law but what is under investigation currently includes similar offences as the ones he was convicted for,” said the prosecution.
“He is a repeat offender and is not deserving of any consideration for bail.”
