Government to Stop Dangerous White Widow's Case

A Mombasa court has ordered the government to withdraw a case against wanted terror suspect Samantha Lewthwaite alias White Widow.

Mombasa Chief Magistrate Julius Nang’ea, on Wednesday ruled that the mentioning of the case be stopped until the day Ms Lewthwaite would be arrested and arraigned before the court.

According to the judge, the case had been mentioned more that 35 times in the past four years without any progress since she was in absentia.

“There will be no further mention (of the case) until the court is moved appropriately,” he dictated.

The court noted that since 2012, the prosecution had always been requesting for mention dates whenever the case was to begin because they didn't have the suspect with them, prompting the ruling.

Prosecutor Lydia Kagori had objected the decision claiming that the international community would not assist the country in case the suspect was arrested.

“The international community will be unable to assist us (if the case is withdrawn), we are ready to bring an officer to court to testify,” she urged.

The 'White Widow' was charged alongside Habib Saleh alias Osama, with being in possession of explosives and conspiracy to commit a felony, but the case never kicked off since she has never been arrested.

The British national has an international warrant of arrest issued against her, for orchestrating attacks in different parts of the world and is linked to the 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi.

 

 

 

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