By Patrick Kibet         

A Muslim cleric has been arraigned before a Nakuru court charged with sex tourism.

Sheikh Ali Samoja was charged with trafficking a minor to Nairobi where she was reportedly defiled by certain Sayyid Muktadha, a Lebanon national.

According to court documents, Samoja, a Muslim cleric at Bilal Muslim Mission in Nakuru, is alleged to have committed the offence on unspecified dates in July last year.

Samoja denied the charges before Senior Resident Magistrate Paul Mayova yesterday. Prosecutor Kingstone Oyier asked the court to remand the accused at Central Police Station in Nakuru until Thursday to allow officers to complete investigation.

However, lawyer Gordon Ogola representing Samoja urged the court to release the accused person on bail after the prosecution failed to offer compelling reasons against the application.

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He noted that the alleged crime happened six months ago and police had time to conduct their inquiries. Mayova allowed the application by the prosecution and directed the accused to be remanded for a day at the Nakuru Central Police Station.

Bail application will be heard today while full hearing of the case proceeds on March 6. 

A warrant of arrest has also been issued against Samoja’s co-accused, Muktadha, who is currently in Lebanon.  The minor’s father said Samoja was arrested while planning to travel to Lebanon after the racket was unearthed.