Somaliland: Military Court Sentences a Civilian to Death for the murder of Policeman in Gabiley

By Goth Mohamed Goth

Gabiley -The First Degree Military Court of Somaliland yesterday sentenced Mr. Saalax Isaaq to death after he was found guilty of killing Officer Buux Mawliid Ismaiil earlier this month in the city of Gabiley.

Additionally, the court handed down varying prison sentences ranging from 4 to 13 years to four individuals found guilty of involvement in the murder. Two other defendants were acquitted and released.

The court issued the following sentences:

1. Shibil Saalax Isaaq Muxumed, 25 years old, was sentenced to death.
2. Qaran Abdilqadir Maxamed Yuusuf, 25 years old, a soldier who aided the primary defendant in the murder, was sentenced to 13 years in military prison.
3. Barkhad Mohamed Haji Barkhad, 20 years old, a Bajaj driver who assisted the primary defendant, was sentenced to 10 years in prison due to his lack of prior knowledge of the crime.
4. Isaaq Mohamed Hussain, 50 years old, was acquitted and released after the prosecution failed to prove his involvement in the murder or any connection to the primary defendant. The court ruled that his prior confession, which he retracted, could not be used against him.
5. Khubeyd Ahmed Muxumed, 23 years old, was sentenced to 8 years in military prison for aiding in the murder.
6. Anwar Isaaq Muxumed, 20 years old, was sentenced to 4 years in military prison for sending money to his brother (the primary defendant).
7. Mustafa Hussain Adan, 25 years old, the owner of the Bajaj, was acquitted and released after the court found no evidence linking him to the crime.

Those dissatisfied with the verdict can appeal.

The murdered officer, a member of Somaliland’s Road Safety Forces, was killed by the primary defendant, a Bajaj driver, following an argument.

In a separate case, the military court also sentenced a soldier to death for killing a police Major in Hargeisa, while another individual(accomplice)involved in the murder was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

The military court had previously announced that any soldier who kills another soldier or individual would be immediately sentenced to death, with no exceptions.