A Busia Law Court has convicted and sentenced Jackson Kanoti alias Abdul Hakim to 30 years in prison for the collection of information to aid terrorist activities.
The Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) in a statement noted that the collection of information to aid terrorist activities is contrary to Section 29 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and possession of articles connected to terrorism is contrary to Section 30 of the same Act.
“A person who is a member of a terrorist group or who, in committing or in instigating, preparing or facilitating the commission of a terrorist act, holds, collects, generates or transmits information for the use in the commission of a terrorist act commits an offence, and is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding thirty years,” states the POTA.
Magistrates T.A. Madowo based the judgement on evidence produced by prosecutors Kibiwott Kiprono and Ms. Nina Opiyo.
Terrorist Involvement
The evidence showed that Kinoti actively subscribed to social media platforms such as Telegram and Instagram, where he could receive live updates on terrorism attacks and terrorism-related activities around the world.
Furthermore, they revealed that the accused was a subscriber to terror links, namely ISIS Congo 1, Al-Shabaab, and other terror-affiliated networks.
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“The accused person actively subscribed to social media platforms such as Telegram and Instagram, where he could receive live updates on terrorism attacks and terrorism-related activities around the world,” reads the statement by ODPP.
“The evidence also revealed that the accused was a subscriber to terror links, namely ISIS Congo 1, Al-Shabaab, and other terror-affiliated networks,” reported the office of ODPP.”
The Judgement
The court also took judicial notice of incriminating materials recovered from the accused’s possession, that were utilized for radicalization and recruitment of youth into prohibited terrorist Organizations.
Upon careful evaluation, Madowo deemed the prosecution’s evidence credible, substantial and consistent, thereby eliminating any reasonable doubt regarding the accused person’s culpability.
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In closing, ODPP noted that this legal determination serves as a notice to other practitioners engaging in such activities as they shall also be held as crime offenders.
“As the nation persists in its unwavering campaign to counter terrorist threats, this legal determination serves as an unequivocal notice that perpetrators of such egregious offenses shall be held criminally culpable,” said ODPP.
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