Yemeni charged in Kenyan court on suspicion of ties to al-Qaeda

On Monday, police in Kenya charged a Yemeni national suspected of having ties with Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network after he tried to become a Kenyan citizen using false pretences.  

The suspect, Haitham Omar Hussein Omar, alias Ali Abdallah Ali, was arraigned before a Nairobi chief magistrate along with Kenyan national Mbarak Salim Mbarak, who was charged with abetting his efforts.  

Police prosecutor Stephen Chacha opposed bail for the Yemeni, claiming that police were awaiting more information concerning him from Interpol, according to AFP.  

"We suspect he is on the list of wanted al-Qaeda members from what has arisen from investigations, and we have, therefore, asked for information about him from Interpol," Chacha told the court.  

Omar is alleged to have tried to register last Tuesday for a Kenyan identity card at Kariokor, a Nairobi suburb, by falsely pretending that he was a Kenyan citizen under the name of Ali Abdallah Ali.  

Moreover, he allegedly swore falsely before a principal magistrate that he was a Kenyan born on April 20, 1974, and falsely presented himself to registration officials as Ali Abdallah Ali.  

The suspect was in Kenya illegally, having neither an entry permit nor a passport, the charge sheet read. He was remanded in custody, however his alleged accomplice was freed on bond of 200,000 Kenyan shillings (2,540 dollars) and a similar surety, pending the mention of the case for both men on September 23. (Albawaba.com)