Malindi court detains two women for 7 days in child exploitation case

Two women have been ordered to remain in custody for seven days by a court in Malindi, Kilifi County, as police continue their investigation into a child sexual exploitation case involving a South African national.

The suspects Fatma Mohamed and Nafisa AbdulRashid are alleged to have assisted Michael Ballantine, the South African national accused of sexually abusing children aged between 3 and 6 years.

According to the court, Mohamed and AbdulRashid reportedly brought the young girls to Ballantine on August 23 and August 25, 2024, for exploitation.

The police officer who is leading the investigation told the court that she needed seven days to finalise the investigation against the two suspects and the South African national, Michael Ballantine,

The lawyer representing the suspects, James Mauko requested that the detention period be reduced to four days, claiming the extension was excessive but the court upheld the prosecution's request for a seven-day period, deeming it sufficient to complete their investigations.

Resident Magistrate Nkurunah Namunyak stated that the hearing of the case would commence on 2nd September 2024 and ordered that the suspects remain in custody at Malindi Police Station.

The case against Ballantine, who is currently in hiding, has provoked significant anger within the local community.

Reports indicate that Ballantine lured children to his residence in Casuarina, where he allegedly abused them.

Earlier, angry residents cornered the foreign national at his residence in the Casuarina area, but a cat-and-mouse chase ensued, allowing him to escape.

The residents are now calling on the judiciary and the police to do everything possible to ensure that the suspect is apprehended and charged, claiming that more than ten children have suffered similar abuse.

Yusra Salim, the mother of one of the victims, described the distressing event, saying, "My child was taken at 3 pm, and when we found her, she revealed that the suspect had inappropriately touched and sexually assaulted her. Medical examinations confirmed that she had sustained injuries."

Rukia Salim, another relative, added, “The children said they were touched inappropriately and even forced to perform oral acts. The hospital confirmed the abuse.”

Earlier attempts by residents to apprehend Ballantine at his home led to a chase, allowing him to escape.

The case is scheduled for a hearing on September 2, 2024.