By NT Correspondent.
Director of Public Prosecution has opposed release of an Imam accused of fraudulently obtaining over Sh700,000 from a pilgrim.
The DPP opposed the release of Omar Athman Omar who is charged with obtaining Sh774,000 from pilgrims by claiming he was in a position to facilitate complaint to participate in Umrah in Mecca.
Sheikh Athman was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as he returned from Saudi Arabia.
He was presented before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution told the court that on 18 of December, and 19 of December, 2025 at unknown place within the country, Athman obtained from Mohamed Salim Bahlewa Sh. 774,000, with intent to defraud.
The sheikh obtained the money by falsely pretending that he was in a position to facilitate him to participate in Muslim Pilgrimage commonly known as Umrah at Mecca in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The prosecution vehemently opposed his release on bail arguing that he was a flight risk. The court heard he was arrested at JKIA not by voluntary surrender, demonstrating a high likelihood of absconding if released on cash bail.
“The accused has no known fixed place of abode within the jurisdiction of this Court, making it difficult to secure his attendance should he be released,” prosecution told the court.
The charge stated that he falsely represented to the complainant, Mohamed Salim Bahlewa, that he was in a position to facilitate visas for him and his family to Umrah.
The funds were allegedly made through bank transfers and M-Pesa payments.
The court heard that despite receiving the said monies, the sheikh failed to facilitate the said visas, and issued false assurances until the intended travel date of 29 December 2025 lapsed. He thereafter deliberately avoided the complainant.
The complainant reported the matter at Kilimani Police Station on 7 January 2026, upon which investigations commenced.
The investigations established that the accused had left Kenya and travelled to Saudi Arabia, thereby evading arrest and frustrating investigations.
According to prosecution the accused presents himself as an Imam and religious leader, a position of influence which he may use to interfere with, intimidate, or influence prosecution witnesses, including the complainant and other potential witnesses.
Investigations are ongoing and have revealed a likelihood that there may be other victims who were similarly defrauded by the accused under the guise of facilitating Umrah travel arrangements.
“For purposes of tracing such victims and assisting them to lodge formal complaints, it is necessary for the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to publish the image and particulars of the accused on its official X (formerly Twitter) platform, a process which may be compromised if the accused is released,” court heard.
The prosecution alleged there exists a real risk that if released on cash bail, the accused may frustrate investigations and the recovery of the proceeds of crime by concealing, transferring, dissipating, or otherwise dealing with the defrauded funds.
“The release of the accused poses a real risk of interference with witnesses, obstruction of ongoing investigations, and further evasion of justice,” court heard
