An imam from a Malindi mosque, Omar Athman Omar, has been charged with defrauding believer Mohamed Salim Bahlewa of Sh774,000 by promising to take him on Hajj to Mecca during Ramadan. The religious leader denied the charges and sought bail, claiming he is a respected figure unlikely to engage in corruption. Milimani Court remanded him until February 10, 2026.
In a case heard before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina at Milimani Court, Imam Omar Athman Omar faces charges of defrauding Mohamed Salim Bahlewa between December 18 and 19, 2026. According to the accused, he left Kenya on December 9, 2025, for Saudi Arabia to handle religious matters. While abroad, the complainant handed over Sh774,000 to facilitate his Hajj journey to Mecca.
Upon returning to Kenya on February 7, 2026, Imam Omar was detained immediately at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. He told the court: “When I arrived at Jomo Kenyatta Airport – JKIA – I presented my passport to the immigration officer for inspection. Right away, I was handcuffed and taken to Kilimani police station without a chance to contact the complainant.” He claimed the arrest treated him like a terrorist without cause.
The imam firmly denied the fraud allegations and applied for bail, emphasizing his role as a respected religious leader. Magistrate Onyina ordered him remanded until February 10, 2026, to rule on the bail request. This case highlights the challenges religious leaders face in managing financial trusts with their followers.
