Turkish tycoon charged in Mombasa over links with Al Shabaab
A Turkish tycoon, linked to an Al Shabaab terrorist group, was arraigned in a Mombasa Court on Tuesday, February 3, where he was charged with terrorism-related counts.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Osman Erdinc Elsek appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo and was charged with being a member of Harakat Al Shabaab Mujahideen, contrary to Section 24 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012.
Court documents indicated that on January 14, 2026, Elsek recorded videos at the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) Mombasa police station using a Samsung Flip 7 phone for the alleged use of terrorist acts.
The prosecution stated that on January 12, 2026, at Majengo Kanamai area in Kilifi South, Kilifi County, Elsek was found in possession of a Glock pistol in circumstances that raised suspicion it was intended to be used in a circumstantial manner.
His co-accused, Gokmen Sandikci, was charged with consorting with a person in possession of a firearm, contrary to Section 89(2) of the Penal Code.
It is alleged he was found in the company of Elsek, who was claimed to own an illegal pistol.
The prosecution, led by Counsel Barbara Sombo, appealed to the court to direct the suspects to deposit their passports with the court until the conclusion of the case and also sought a pretrial date to allow the prosecution team to supply witness statements and other documentary evidence.
After reviewing the evidence, the magistrate ordered Elsek to be released on a Ksh.1 million bond with a surety of a similar amount and one Kenyan contact person. Sandikci was granted a Ksh.500,000 surety bond with an alternative cash bail of Ksh.200,000.
The court directed that the pretrial will take place on February 19, 2026.
