Somalia military court sentences SNA officer to death for murder

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A Somali military court has sentenced to death a soldier for the killing of an unarmed youth in what is seen as a common incident in the war-torn country, Garowe Online reports.

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, known as [Kumbud], a member of Somali National Army [SNA] was found guilty of intentionally killing Dayah Iman Hassan, a young University graduate on 21st October 2018.

The chief of the military tribunal, Colonel Hassan Ali Nur Shute the announced the verdict, saying the court's death sentence was based on shreds of evidence provided by the witnesses of the shooting incident.

Meanwhile, Shute added that the convicted soldier has only one option that is to apply for an appeal if he is not satisfied with the death sentence.

Late Hassan was hit by gunshots fired by the officer from in battle-wagon that he was travelling in during a traffic jam in the Sey Piano suburb of Mogadishu's Hodon district, according to the court judge.

The human rights groups often accuse the Somali government's military courts of denying lawyers and due process to defendants, mostly alleged Al-Shabab militants.

GAROWE ONLINE