Call For Justice As Court Allows Police To Detain Turkish Tycoon

Centre for Litigation Trust (CLT) has called for justice to prevail in the ongoing case where two Turkish Tycoons suspected of being involved in financing terrorist activities in the country are being detained by Anti-terror police in Mombasa.

Mombasa Magistrate Hon. Odhiambo on Tuesday allowed officers from the ATPU to further detain the Kilifi-based tycoons Osman Elsek and Gokmen Sandikci for 7 more days, pending investigations over the terrorism financing claims.

The suspects had earlier spent 14 days in the custody of the ATPU before being re-arraigned in Court early in the week. 

CLT Executive Director, Julius Ogogoh, said as much as they support the fight against terrorism in the country, the suspects need to get justice before the Courts of Law.

"Like any other Kenyan, we support the fight against terror in the country as long as Justice is allowed to prevail in every case", said Mr Ogogoh.

Elsek, a philanthropic investor in real estate and hotels in Mombasa and Kilifi was on January 13, 2026, along with Gokmen, arrested by officers from the dreaded ATPU, before being arraigned in Mombasa Law Court, but without charges.

The Magistrate later ordered the suspects to be detained for14 days following ODPP's request in order to allow the officers to undertake what they called in their affidavit as an intensive investigation into the matter.

The investigators, through a miscellaneous application, informed the Court that they were pursuing important evidence implicating the two investors with terrorism funding allegations,  before they could charge them in Court.

However, the Magistrate, while ruling on the application, said the state presented a strong case at face value that deserves attention. 

“The Prevention of terrorism Act is a crucial piece of legislation that has been used to handle cases of terror in the country. As such, any offence brought under the Act ought to be given the seriousness it deserves. At this point, it's not possible to tell what kind of evidence the state has against the Respondents Osman Elsek and Gokmen Sandikci. Any kind of investigation carried out will therefore require the suspect to be put under some control so that the investigations are not compromised. This, however, should not be done in a way that contravenes the rights of a suspect,” the Magistrate said in his ruling. 

Osman Elsek's team of three Senior Lawyers, led by John Khaminwa and Ombeta, made unsuccessful attempts to save the suspects from being detained, arguing their clients were being targeted by forces out to grab the massive wealth they own across Kenya.

Khaminwa gave lengthy submissions and reasons why the suspects deserve to walk out free, citing various case laws and books of notable international criminal law and Human rights, as authorities relevant to the circumstances facing their clients.

A team of officials from the Kenya Refugees Council, who addressed the court, also pleaded with the Court to ensure justice for the two businessmen living in the country as refugees, under political asylum status.

Elsek's arrest came a few hours after he was involved in a public scuffle with two prominent politicians in Kilifi following a road accident that claimed his latest model Land-rover car.

The suspects will again be arraigned in court on Monday, February 2, 2026.