- The group is also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
- There was also evidence that he used his social media account to advance the operation of terrorism actions
Image: FILE
A medic found guilty of being a member of ISIS and linking youths with other militants in Libya is staring at a jail term of 90 years.
Mohamed Abdi Ali aka Abu Fidaa was on Friday convicted of various terror-related charges that could see him spend 90 years in jail.
This is if trial Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku allows the sentencing period requested by the prosecution.
As the court found Fidaa guilty, his parents painted a picture of regret saying, it’s unfortunate that after eight years, they have not seen the benefits of the investments they made in their son.
Fidaa had been charged alongside Nuseibah Mohammed Hajji alias Umm Fidaa. But she was however acquitted of the charges for lack of sufficient evidence.
Reports indicate that the convict was arrested on April 29, 2016 on suspicion that he was a member of a terrorist cell of the Islamic State terror group that was involved in radicalisation and recruitment of university students as well as planning large scale attacks, including a biological attack in Kenya using anthrax.
But their plan to unleash the alleged biological attack were foiled by investigative agencies.
During the conviction, Mutuku said prosecution was able to adduce sufficient evidence to prove that he is a member of a terrorist group known as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
The group is also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
There was also evidence that he used his social media account to advance the operation of terrorism actions.
Prosecution also proved that the accused was extensively communicating with members of a terrorist group.
According to the court records, the convict between January 1 2015 and August 27 2016 organised meetings by making referrals regarding operations, financing and recruitment.
The prosecution was also able to prove that Fidaa knowingly recruited youth to be members of ISIS by linking them with other ISIS fighters in Libya.
He also facilitated communication through social media platforms, X (formerly Twitter), Threema and Telegram and via email.
Fidaa used a phone, laptop and other gadgets to collect and transmit information such as video messages, audio messages and images in preparation of a terrorist act.
He was found with the gadgets in Wote, Makueni county.
An examination of the gadgets revealed large amounts of information from Isis videos and photographs that the convict used to transmit content via social media.
The agenda and meetings the court said was to support terrorist activities.
Once Fidaa was convicted, Principal Prosecution Counsel Duncan Ondimu sought a custodial sentence. He said it is in the interest of justice to ensure that perpetrators of such are given the punishment that they deserve.
He asked the court to consider the intelligence of the convict as there is no doubt that he knew what he was doing.
He further asked the court to consider that the convicted has exhibited no remorse or even attempted to atone for his deeds so as to see whether this court can visit mercy upon him.
“This should also be considered in determining appropriate sentences,” he said.
Fidaa has been in custody for the past eight years since his arraignment in court.
Ondimu proposed he be given 22 years for being a member of a terrorist group. The act provides that such a person be sentenced to a period of 30 years but since he has already spent the eight years, the court gives him 22 years behind bars.
For organising a meeting in support of terrorist groups the prosecution proposed 12 years. The act provides that the sentence should not exceed 20 years.
For recruitment of members of a terrorist group, to collection of information and possession of articles connected with the commission of terrorist act, he urged the court to give him 56 years.
“Since this was an offence that kept on being committed over a period of time. We pray they will be served consecutively, not concurrently,” he said.
Meaning the sentence should run one after the other and not simultaneously.
Court will sentence him on April 22.