US Court Defers Sentencing of Kenyan Akasha Brothers in Drug-Trafficking Case

The sentencing date for Kenyan Akasha brothers, who pleaded guilty to drug-trafficking charges in the United States, has been deferred.

The US federal judge presiding over the case against Baktash and Ibrahim Akasha has announced that sentencing, which was scheduled for February 1st, has been pushed to March 15th.

Each of the two faces a jail term ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment following a plea bargain agreement entered with US prosecutors last year.

Ibrahim and Baktash pleaded guilty to seven drug-trafficking and bribery charges weeks before the official commencement of their trial at the New York court.

Part of their plea bargain deal states that they could be handed a fine of up to $10 million (Sh1 billion) and be required to surrender all the assets obtained through proceeds of drug smuggling.

Justice Victor Marrero has postponed the sentencing following a request by defense attorneys, who are seeking more time to develop information to be tabled as potentially mitigating factors.

In a letter to the court, Baktash's attorney George Goltzer explains that his client "has an extensive family that includes multiple wives, children, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and his mother, for which he has provided support throughout his life".