Mogadishu, Puntland military courts jail Shabaab suspects for life, 20 years

Six Al-Shabaab militants were sentenced to life and 20 years imprisonment today by military courts sitting in Mogadishu and Puntland.

In Puntland, the courts-martial slapped Ismail Abdullahi Ibrahim,  Mustafe Adan Kerow, Bashir Moalim Nur and Abdifatah Moalim Ali, to 20 years in prison each. But it was a relief for 16-year-old Mohamed Ibrahim Isaack who was spared the sentences after the court handed him over to the Ministry of Justice and Rehabilitation since he is underage.

The court found them guilty of belonging to Al-Shabaab following their arrest in Galgala mountains. Prosecutors said the suspects had been trained in southern Somalia and moved to Galgala mountain ranges in Puntland’s Bari region.

In a related development, the military court in Mogadishu condemned two Al-Shabaab militants to life in prison for belonging to and working for Al-Shabaab. Hassan Aden Nur and Omar Abshir Jaabir were found guilty by the court and sent to a lifetime in jail.

According to the ruling, Nur was in charge of finance in Bal’ad district for Al-Shabaab while Jaabir was his driver. The two were arrested during fighting with Somali forces last November and underwent treatment for injuries sustained before they were arraigned in court.