Somalia: Al-Shabab cell found smuggling weapons given jail term

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The top military tribunal of Somalia delivered its final verdict on Thursday, sentencing a member of Al-Shabab extremist group to 15 years in prison, Garowe Online reports.

Mohamed Abdullahi in his 20s has been arrested last February in Mogadishu for transporting weapons and delivering guns from Lower Shabelle region to the group’s assassins at their hideouts in the city.

At the court hearing, the court’s chief judge said the verdict was based on the prosecutor’s conclusion, all related evidence, and a thorough review of the plaintiffs’ and defendant’s statements.

Abdullahi has joined Al-Shabab in August last year and was in charge of Arms trafficking and confessed that he had fought alongside his fellow militants in several battles against the Somali National Army.

“If the defendant is not satisfied with the verdict, he has the right to file a complaint with the Appeal Court within a month,” said Colonel Hassan Ali Nur Shute, the head of the Somali military court.

The UN-backed Somali government based in Mogadishu still actively carries out the death penalty by squad shooting despite condemnations from the International human rights groups.

In spite of losing swathes of territory, Al-Shabab, the Al-Qaeda’s most powerful in East Africa continue to launch deadly attacks targeting government buildings, hotels, and assassinations against officials.

GAROWE ONLINE