ANTI-TERRORISM BILL: Somali gov’t to seize property of convicted terrorists

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The government will now have the power to seize the property of a convicted terrorist or impose monetary penalties, the new Anti-Terrorism Bill which is now proceeding to the Upper House following its passage by the Lower House last week stipulates.

The Bill which has been lying in the Lower House for nearly six years since it was first tabled in 2017 prescribes sweeping powers to the government and security agencies to deter, counter and prosecute terrorism in the country.

Article 32 (b) of the Bill empowers the government to ‘confiscate all property used in the act of terrorism, its facilitation or the reason for its acquisition, even if the property has been transferred to someone else or as it was before it was distorted.’

Further, article 32 (j) gives the government powers to ‘confiscate all property owned or controlled by him (terrorist), held or gathered for a terrorist group or organisation and all or some of the property owned by a terrorist.’

In instances where the government is not able to seize the property, sub-article x says, the court ‘shall impose a corresponding monetary penalty.’

The bill however provides a reprieve for persons who may have an interest in a condemned property. They can appeal the seizure decision within 60 days failure to which the property shall ‘be owned by the government.

Military courts in Somalia have passed verdicts against Al-Shabaab and ISIS suspects in many cases varying from various jail terms to death but have not had the power to order property seizures.

The Bill also confines handling terrorism cases to military courts contrary to appeals by rights groups to move such cases to civilian courts.