2 Iranians Jailed For Being In Kenya Illegally

The two, Zahra Kolobian alias Adi Larian and Hesamoddin Hatami Malmiri alias Avshalom have an option of paying at least Ksh 2M.

The sentencing was done by the Resident Magistrate Justice Kaguru.

In the first count of forging passports, the two were jailed for two years with an option of a fine of ksh 2M.

In the second offence, they are to serve a one year jail for being in Kenya illegally.

The judge further ordered that upon completion of their sentence, they will be handed over to Kenya's refugee affairs department.

The two have been allowed 14 days to appeal the sentence.

The two were arrested on the 16th September 2014 at the JKIA using forged Israel passports while departing Kenya to Brussels aboard Brussels airlines.

Reports had shown that the two ran away from Iran.

The two had asked the court not to send them back to their motherland claiming that they would be killed.

The magistrate said that she arrived at the sentence after the two pleaded guilty to the charges and in their mitigation did not show that they had sought asylum in any country.

By Anne Muchiri