A Nairobi court has ordered the detention of Dutch national Mohamed Hassan until July 10, 2025, when it is expected to deliver a ruling on whether he will remain in custody or be released on bail as he awaits extradition to the Netherlands.
Hassan is wanted by Dutch authorities for violating the conditions of his supervised release after being convicted in 2019 by the Court of The Hague for theft with violence and extortion. He was sentenced to serve 32 months in prison and required to compensate the complainant. Following his conviction, Hassan was released under the supervision of the Dutch Probation Services in August 2020.
However, authorities report that Hassan failed to adhere to the terms of his probation. As a result, the Dutch court revoked his probation and issued a warrant for his arrest in May 2021. Subsequently, an Interpol Red Notice was published to aid in his apprehension.
Hassan was eventually arrested on December 18, 2024, at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, having arrived from Somaliland. Since his arrest, he has been out on bail for seven months while awaiting a formal extradition request from the Dutch government.
During his most recent court appearance on July 3, 2025, before Milimani Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi, Hassan did not object to being extradited to the Netherlands. He stated in court that he had no intention of resisting the state’s request for his return to serve the remainder of his sentence.
However, he pleaded with the court to grant him time to be with his family in Kenya before his extradition. Hassan emphasized that despite being out on bail for several months, he had not attempted to abscond.
The prosecution opposed this request, arguing that Hassan is a high flight risk. Principal Prosecution Counsel Magdalene Nduati noted that he had previously fled Dutch jurisdiction and evaded law enforcement for years. She pointed out that Interpol had been pursuing him across multiple countries, reinforcing concerns that he might attempt to escape again if released.
To ensure that the extradition is carried out smoothly, the prosecution also requested that a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer and a state prosecutor accompany Hassan during the transfer to the Netherlands.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed that all legal procedures required for extradition have been met in accordance with the Extradition (Contiguous and Foreign Countries) Act, Cap 76 of the Laws of Kenya.
The final decision on whether Hassan will remain in custody or be granted further bail will be made on July 10, 2025.
