Sheikh in court for defiling teen 6 years ago

A Muslim cleric was on Monday charged before a Nakuru court with defiling a 15-year-old minor in 2012.

Sheikh Mustafa Murtadha, who appeared before court was charged that in July, 2012 in Nairobi, he defiled the minor, charges he denied.

The prosecution told the court that the accused, who had been on the run for six years, was arrested by police on Sunday at Moi International Airport, Mombasa as he tried to flee to Lebanon urging the court to deny the cleric bond.

However, the accused, through his lawyer Cliff Ombeta declined the application saying that the prosecution did not provide compelling reasons to hold his client.

The magistrate, in his ruling agreed with the defense saying prosecution did not give any compelling reason why the sheikh should not be denied bond and released him on a Ksh.800,000 bond or an alternative cash bail of Ksh.300,000.

He further directed that the accused deposit his original passport in court pending hearing of the matter on May 28.