Garissa University attack suspect mentally unfit to stand trial, court told

A Tanzanian national, who is the fifth accused person in the Garissa University terror attack, is mentally unfit to stand trial, the court was told on Wednesday, September 28.

Prosecution counsel, Eddy Kadebe, presented in court a medical letter from Kamiti Medical Facility indicating that Rashid Charles Mberosero is ill mentally and as such cannot withstand hearing of the case.

Mberesero, through his advocate, Chacha Mwita, denied that he was mentally ill. He explained to the court that the Kamiti Medical Officer forced an injection on him that later caused him headache as he had not complained of any sickness.

As a result of the dilemma, Chief Magistrate, Daniel Ogembo, had to order for the trial adjournment and directed that the accused be taken to Mathare Mental Hospital for re-examination of his mental fitness.

The Magistrate further summoned the in charge of the Kamiti Maximum Prison to appear before court in person in the next mention date to explain the complaints by the accused person of being injected without his consent.

Mberesero had been charged along side four others – Mohamed Ali Abdikar, Hassan Aden Hassan, Sahal Diriye and Osman Abdi, who are thought to be Kenyan and Somali nationals.

The five are accused of involvement in terrorist activities at Garissa University in North Eastern on April 2, 2015 that led to death of 148 people. The case will be mentioned on October 3, 2016.