PUNTLAND: MILITARY COURT ISSUES DEATH SENTENCES TO AL-SHABAAB SUSPECTS

The military court of Somalia’s northeastern region of Puntland, has issued death sentences and life imprisonment to 5 al-Shabaab suspects accused on terrorism charges, Garowe Online reports. The hearing procedures were carried out for 8 defendants in the military court on July 6 before issuing the final verdict by the Judge. Later Judge Awil Ahmed Farah announced the verdict for the defendants who are accused for involvement in terrorism activities in Puntland.
2 defendants were issued with death sentences, 3 defendants with life imprisonment, whereas the other 3 were acquitted from all charges due to lack of substantial evidences. Among suspects who was sentenced to execution is a local businessman accused of plotting to receive bomb-making materials and conduct terrorist attacks in Bari region. Earlier, security forces at the checkpoint control of Bosaso city, have seized a truck ferrying explosive-making materials. And during the interrogation process with the suspects they confessed the shipment was destined to a businessman residing in Bosaso. The authority used a mobile phone belonging to one of the suspects to contact the businessman who later claimed to own the shipment. Subsequently, the authorities conduct a security raid in a Mosque at the local market in Bosaso leading to the arrest of the businessman.