- In her ruling, Magistrate Rita Orora Timami ruled that the convict will serve an additional year in jail if he fails to pay the stated amount of fine.
- "The sentence was guided by advisory information from the Probation
Image: HANDOUT
Mombasa businessman, Abdulmajid Msallam Timami was Thursday sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for trafficking 1015.8 grams of heroin worth Sh3 million.
Timami will also pay Sh9.1 million fine after he was convicted last week.
Mombasa Resident Magistrate Rita Orora also ruled that Timami will serve an additional year in jail if he fails to pay the fine.
She said the sentence was guided by advisory information from the Probation Office on the conduct of the convict as well as his mitigation.
Orora also ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle which was used to transport the heroin.
The prosecution team led by Theresa Mwangeka and Valerian Ongeti proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt after presenting eight witnesses.
The convict had among others tried to bribe court officials for his freedom.
Officials aware of the attempt said Abdulmajid Msalam Timami had set aside Sh1 million to bribe the officials but failed.
This was aimed at ensuring the case went in his favour.
The money was intercepted and targeted officials warned by state agents.
The state got wind of the machinations leading to various actions within the justice system to ensure justice in the end.
Sources revealed that in March 2022, authorities thwarted a scheme by a wealthy businessman to compromise the case.
Timami was arrested in March 2019 in a sting operation while in possession of heroin while heading to make a delivery.
After his arrest, detectives looped in the Assets Recovery Agency after it was established that he had amassed lots of property through his dealings.
The ARA case is at an advanced stage which detectives hope will deal a final blow to the drug empire.
Timami businesses include real estate in Mombasa and long-distance trucks which are believed to be fronts for laundering proceeds of the illicit trade.
The ruling has been touted as a major win against narcotics traffickers in the country courtesy of an ever strengthening criminal justice system.
Mombasa has suffered the narcotics surge driven by voracious individuals keen on making money while wrecking havoc to hundreds of families.
Most of the heroine in the country originates from Afghanistan through the Indian Ocean while cocaine originates from South America.