A Nairobi court has detained a Dutch national, Mohamed Hassan, until July 10, 2025, when it will make a ruling on his deportation.
Hassan was prosecuted and convicted on charges of theft with violence and extortion in the Netherlands.
According to the Dutch authorities, in September 2019, the court of The Hague sentenced Hassan to serve 32 months in prison and was also instructed to pay the complainant.
Following the conclusion of the case, he was released on August 16, 2020, to begin serving his sentence under the supervision of the Dutch Probation Services.
However, the authorities state that Hassan failed to comply with the conditions of his release.
Due to his failure to comply, the court revoked his probation, and a warrant of arrest was issued against him on May 20, 2021.
An Interpol Red Notice was then published by the Dutch authorities.
His arrest
On December 18, 2024, the Kenya National Central Bureau (NCB) informed the Dutch authorities that Hassan had been apprehended at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, as arrived from Somaliland.
Hassan has been on bail for the past seven months pending a formal extradition request from Dutch authorities.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) formally requested his extradition to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi on Thursday, July 3, 2025, Hassan did not object to his extradition.
“I do not oppose the request by the state to extradite me to the Netherlands,” Hassan told the court.
His family in Kenya
However, he urged the court to allow him to have time with his family, who are in Kenya, before he is returned to the Netherlands to serve his sentence.
He told the court that he had been out on bail, stating that in that period he had not attempted to escape.
His request has been vehemently opposed by the Principal Prosecution Counsel, Magdalene Nduat,i stating that Hassan is a known flight risk.
“The respondent fled Dutch jurisdiction while on probation and has avoided authorities for years. Interpol has been actively pursuing him across multiple countries,” prosecutor Nduati told the court.
Further, Nduati requested the court to have a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer and State Prosecutor accompany Hassan during the extradition process to The Hague.
The ODPP told court that all the legal requirements for extradition have been fulfilled under the Extradition (Contiguous and Foreign Countries) Act, Cap 76 of the Laws of Kenya.
Magistrate Ekhubi will rule on July 10, 2025, whether Hassan will remain in custody or continue on bail while awaiting extradition.
Author
Zipporah Ngwatu
Z.N.
