Ex-SSU police officers to remain in custody longer

Nine police officers formerly attached to the disbanded Special Services Unit (SSU) of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) will remain in custody until November 10 as investigations continue into their alleged involvement in the disappearance of two Indian nationals and a Kenyan in July.

The nine are held at the Kileleshwa Police Station.Kahawa Law Courts Chief Magistrate Diana Mochache ruled that the court will determine on November 10 whether to grant permission to the Director of Public Prosecutions to continue holding them or to have them released on bail.

The nine are accused of abducting and disappearing Mohamed Zaid and Zulfiqar Ahmed, as well as their driver Nicodemus Mwange on July 25.The prosecution argued that the officers could interfere in investigations if released on bail.

“The investigators have justifiable reasons to suspect and reasonably believe that the forceful abduction was meticulously planned and systematically carried out by the nine respondents before court,” Assistant DPP Michael Sang’ told the court.

The prosecution, among other things, is seeking to conduct DNA test on the suspects to ascertain if they were at the scene of crime and also do a forensic audit of their phones.

The defense lawyer, Danstan Omari, however countered this, arguing that the nine were simply being politically targeted unfairly.He also rejected the application to have DNA tests conducted on the suspects as being inhumane.