Court Convicts Former Govt Officials on Corruption C

[Khalid Ali]

S/land Court Convicts Former Govt Officials on Corruption Charges

A Hargeisa court today has convicted three former government officials accused of misappropriation of food aid donate by the sultanate of Oman.

The director of public prosecutions during a closed door session read the court verdict against the five defendants include, Ahmed Omar Haji Abdullahi the former Maroodi Jeeh regional governor, Ahmed Elmi Bare, former director general in the Ministry of Resettlement,Osman Said Jama and the former advisor to Vice President Abdirahman Abdullahi Ismail.

The court handed sentence to the former Maroodi Jeeh regional governor Mr.Ahmed Omar Haji Abdullahi and the former director general in the Ministry of Resettlement Mr. Ahmed Elmi Bare to three years jail term each, while the former advisor to Vice President Abdirahman Abdullahi Ismail to one year jail term and a fine of three million SL shilling.

Meanwhile the same court handed sentences ranging from one year to eight years to seven others in absentia, at the same time acquitting two other persons who were early accused in the same corruption case, while two other were remanded by the same court until further date.

Mr. Mohamed salah the defense lawyer presenting the defendants said the courts verdict was unfair and that we will file an appeal in the coming days.

The defendants were charged with taking 2,500 bags of rice and 400 cartons of beans which was part of a 1,000-metric-ton food shipment donated by Oman that also included clothes.

The suspects are accused of re-routing the food to a private warehouse to be distributed for personal use.

[Saraxnow]

I'm glad they were caught,and a lesson was taught.