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Controversial religious leader Paul Mackenzie was on Tuesday, May 2, released by the Malindi Courts and then rearrested ten minutes later to face fresh charges in Shanzu High Court.
Principal Magistrate Ivy Wasike released Mackenzie alongside his six accomplices at the very time the court sought 90 more days to complete investigations.
Six suspects arrested with Paul Mackenzie were also released unconditionally. In a ruling declared at the Malindi Law Courts, the magistrate noted that the eighth and tenth suspects were already in custody for 10 days since their arrest on April 17, which meant that their maximum period of detention had been reached.
However, the court also observed that the first and seventh suspects had applied for anticipatory bail, a move that can only be handled by the High Court.
This court cannot, in its capacity, give any formal anticipatory bail as there is no formal application to hold the suspects. As it is, anticipatory bail is taken from the High Court. Any application for bail can be made before the specialised court once they are arraigned. In this regard, this miscellaneous file is therefore closed. The suspects are at liberty to leave unless they are again otherwise withheld.”
The magistrate stated.
It was also revealed on Monday, April 24, by the Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome, that the self-postured religious leader had a criminal record that date back to 2017, where he was linked to claims of unlawful teachings that saw students drop out of school.
Following the 2017 arrest, Paul Mackenzie was arraigned in court and faced trial in 2018. The suspect denied the charges alleged against him and was released on a Ksh. 500,000 bond.
Read: New Twist; Bodies Exhumed From Shakahola Belong To Pastor Ezekiel
The Arrest of Paul Mackenzie
Mackenzie was arrested on March 17, 2023, for allegedly starving members of his congregation to death. He is accused of the mass killing of over 110 people and burying them in his Shakahola land.
According to our criminal records, Mackenzie has a record dating back to 2017. The most recent report was made on March 17, 2023. In the report, he was linked to the death of 2 children.
Koome said.
He was re-arrested on April 14, 2023, after presenting himself to police. Thereafter, he was arraigned on April 17, 2023. A custodial order of 14 days was enacted to enable the police to conclude investigations.”
In 2019, Mackenzie was flagged by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) for airing unauthorized content on his TV station.
Additionally, Chief Justice Martha Koome on April 27, stated that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), stated that the commission was examining the criminal records of the pastor to establish whether there was any misconduct on the part of Judicial Officers and staff who handled the matter.
[…] Paul Mackenzie freed by the Courts and rearrested immediately. […]