Two Iranians charged with filming Israeli embassy in Nairobi
Two Iranians have been charged in a Nairobi court with taking video clips of the Israeli Embassy.
Sayed Nasrollah Ebrahim and Abdolhosein Gholi Safaee were intercepted aboard a diplomatic car on Bishops Road, Nairobi, after they had come from visiting two other Iranians who have been jailed for life over terrorism at the Kamiti prison, the court heard.
TERRORIST ACT
“They are believed to have been collecting information in facilitation of a terrorist act,” Mr Duncan Ondimu of the ODPP said.
The suspects were found taking the pictures using a mobile phone.
“They had taken pictures from Kamiti prison all the way to the NSSF building before police intercepted them,” the prosecutor said.
A Kenyan driver, Mr Moses Keyah Mmboga, who was chauffeuring the diplomatic vehicle registration number 64CD 3K belonging to the Iranian embassy, has been charged alongside the suspects and also faces a separate charge of “abetting terrorism”.
RESTRICTED AREA
The charge against the driver states that on November 29 along Bishops Road, Nairobi, “you drove a motor vehicle which had occupants who took a video clip of a restricted area”.
Mr Ondimu said the police would be investigating the circumstances under which the two suspects were given a diplomatic vehicle by a deputy ambassador to use in committing offences in the city.
He asked that the suspects be detained until Tuesday next week for police to complete investigations.
The prosecutor asked the court to take judicial notice of the current state of renewed terror alerts grave danger the arrested suspects posed.
On Wednesday, the Inspector General of Police released an alert stating that there were fears renewed terrorism activity that may culminate in the festive season.
SERIOUS OFFENCES
Magistrate Joyce Gandfani in her ruling to deny the suspects bond said the offences they face were serious necessitating comprehensive investigations.
The magistrate also rejected a request by the suspect’s lawyer to bar the media from covering the proceedings saying the presence of the press posed no prejudice.
She concurred that Kenyans have a right to know “what was happening on matters concerning national security.”
