A man who grabbed a firearm and attempted to shoot at court users at the Mombasa law courts tried to commit suicide by slitting his stomach open at the Shimo La Tewa Maximum prison.
Musa Salim, who is being held in connection to charges of stealing contrary to section 268 as read with 275 of the penal code, is reported to have used a razor blade to inflict injuries on himself moments after he was whisked from the Mombasa law courts where he had grabbed a firearm from a prison officer and threatened to shoot at court users inside a courtroom.
He has since recorded his statement at the Central police station following the incident.
He is yet to be charged concerning the Monday attempted shooting incident as detectives are waiting for him to recover and undergo a mental assessment to establish if he is fit for trial.
The suspect had been arraigned before the court for the hearing of his case and as he waited for the mention of his matter he grabbed the firearm from the prison Warden and threatened to end his life before attempting to cock the rifle aiming at court users.
According to a letter written to the Mombasa law courts chief magistrate, copied to the presiding Judge Olga Sewe, the suspect whose matter was set to be heard in court number five presided by principal magistrate Gladys Olimo grabbed a gun from a prison Warden and tried to cock the gun to shoot inside the courtroom but was overpowered.
The incident unfolded with shocking suddenness, sending shockwaves through the normally serene courtroom.
“The incident happened when an accused person grabbed a firearm from a Prison Officer and tried to shoot the people around but he was not able to cock the firearm to enchamber it,” part of the letter reads.”
It went on to say that he was overpowered by the court orderlies around him and the gun was taken away from him.
“There is no doubt that this is a scary and unfortunate incident that should not have taken place. The Honorable Magistrate had to be whisked away back to her chambers. She was shaken after the incident and all the matters before her had to be taken out.”
The authorities at the Central Police Station were immediately informed and noted that an investigation is now underway to understand the circumstances that led to this alarming breach of court security.
