Somalia: Puntland Govt admits freeing prisoners

GAROWE, Somalia Dec 28, 2014 (Garowe Online)-Puntland Government in northern Somalia for the first time admitted it released undisclosed number of inmates from a prison amidst concerns over the freeing of two convicted Al Shabaab members, Garowe Online reports.

Speaking in annual performance review conference at Health Ministry headquarters in the state capital of Garowe on Sunday, Puntland’s Minister for Justice Ismael Mohamed Warsame revealed that prisoners held at security checkpoints in the southern part of Garowe have been set free.

“The prisoners being held at Garowe security checkpoint were all released,” said Warsame.

Prison facilities in Puntland freed many Al Shabaab suspects according to a confidential report by United Nations Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea in early October 2014.

Nevertheless, Justice Minister insisted that after interrogations, the government returned freedom to suspects.

On the substandard living conditions, Warsame noted that the recently-constructed Gardo and Garowe prisons relieved the overcrowding police custodies of burden.

On December 15, insiders told Garowe Online that convicted Al Shabaab members-Abdirizak Hussein Tahlil (Ilka Ase) and Mohamed Nuh Adan (Abu Hafsa)-were freed in exchange for three kidnapped civilians in Galkayo.

GAROWE ONLINE