Somalia: Puntland court acquits politicians of charges of ‘treason’
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- Posted On 04-03-2015, 12:19PM
GAROWE, Somalia, March 4, 2015 (Garowe Online)-A court in Somalia’s north eastern state of Puntland has dropped treason charges against politicians and traditional leaders on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.
The chairman of first degree court of Nugal Mohamed Hared Farah told reporters in Garowe that following an appeal against a verdict being dealt to 14 people on January 13, 2015, the judges found defendants innocent of treason charges.
He added that the court did not receive complete evidences and ordered that the 14 people be compensated with $8,000 collectively.
Among the defendants proved not guilty of charges of treason is former Puntland Member of Parliament Abdiweli Musse Shire who was sentenced to life in prison for attending a conference held in central Somali town of Adado. Shire reportedly returned to Galkayo.
Three of the fourteen were handed down life imprisonment while 11 could have served 10-year terms in jail.
On July 31, 2014 Puntland protested the inclusion of Mudug in central state MAP, withdrawing confidence for the UN-backed weak central government in Mogadishu.
GAROWE ONLINE
