Kenya Deports Somali Australian

By Rhett Watson and Mburu Mwangi in Kenya
13jun04
THE Federal Government is investigating a man who returned to Australia two weeks ago after being banned from a north African country on suspicion of terrorist involvement.

Mukhtur Moxamed Sayid, a Somali-born Australian citizen, spent five days in a Kenyan cell last month after counter-terrorist police arrested him over suspected links to terrorists.

He was released without charge, deported and banned from returning.

The Sunday Telegraph has learned that Mr Sayid is a business partner of a former senior Middle Eastern intelligence officer, accused of human-rights abuses. The pair has extensive property interests in Australia.

Kenya's counter-terrorism unit chief, Mathew Kabetu, would not reveal details about Mr Sayid, saying Kenya did not want to be involved in a protracted case and any terrorist links could be investigated by Australian authorities.

"Take it from me - Australia is sending a senior officer here to dig deeper into this man," he said.

A spokesman for Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock confirmed Mr Sayid was free to come and go from Australia because he was not wanted by authorities, but that they were monitoring him.

"We can confirm Australian officials have an interest in him and his activities," he said.

The Sunday Telegraph understands Mr Sayid had earlier come to the attention of NSW counter-terrorism agents for domestic matters. He could not be contacted.

However, his Kenyan lawyer said Mr Sayid was in Nairobi to introduce his Bosnian wife, Sitaka Bonjak, to his relatives in nearby Somalia.

The couple and another man were detained by Kenyan counter-terrorist police on May 16 after they booked into a hotel near the Israeli embassy.

Mr Sayid and Ms Bonjak were deported on May 20 and reportedly flew to the Arab Emirate state of Bahrain, then returned to Australia.