This archive report was first published on 19 August 2019.
On August 16, 2019, Baktash Akasha, a 41-year-old Kenyan, stood before the Southern District of New York Court, awaiting his fate. He had pleaded guilty to six counts of drug trafficking and bribery in October 2018.
Before Justice Victor Marrero read out his sentence, Baktash was given five minutes to plead for a lesser jail term. In a heartfelt apology, he expressed remorse for his involvement in the drugs trade and the pain he had caused his family.
"I am truly guilty of these crimes, and I stand ashamed... I only have myself to blame (and) I need to change who I am as a person," Baktash told the court.
He further explained that he got into the drug trafficking business as a result of the murder of his father and did not know what he was getting into at the time.
"I truly wish I could turn back the clock knowing what I know now," said Baktash.
His attorney, George Goltzer, argued that despite Baktash's involvement in crime, he was a good man who had helped residents of Mombasa, especially fishermen during financial hardships.
However, Justice Marrero ruled that Baktash sought to smuggle large quantities of Heroin and Methamphetamine into the United States, conspired to possess machine guns and destructive weapons, and bribed Kenyan officials to avoid extradition to the US to face drug-related charges.
As a result, Baktash was sentenced to 25 years in prison, plus a fine of $100,000 (about Sh10.3 million).
