Puntland Court Releases Reporter after 6 months in Jail

2011-01-03T03:48:00.000-08:00

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) welcomes today the release of journalist Yusuf Ali Adan, an online reporter for Somalifans news website, whose whereabouts remained unknown until December this year that Puntland Intelegence Srevice (PIS) produced him at the Criminal Court in Bossasso town of Puntland.

Yusuf Ali Adan, who was released on Thursday 30 December 2010, was first time brought to the Criminal Court in Bossasso town on 27 December 2010. The judge of the court Abdirisak Hareed asked the prosecutor to present to the court criminal evidence he had against the defendant but the prosecutor could not bring enough evidence to the court but he claimed that Mr Adan made defamation against the Ports Minister of Puntland that caused the public to panic which could result clear danger of imminent anarchistic action, insecurity and social unrest. The prosecutor added that the minister had withdrawn his case of defamation.

“This is a great day and the year ends with this joyous news. Justice was done for Adan, at last. Criminalising journalist’s work has been something that we have been protesting all these months,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

The Lawyer of the defendant, Ahmed Barre said that Mr Adan did not commit any crime and there is no any criminal evidence against him. The lawyer added that Mr Adan is an innocent citizen who has been jailed illegally for nearly 6 months without charges. The lawyer requested the court to release Mr Adan and he should be compensated for the illegal detention by the administration.

The judge asked the prosecutor on 27 December to bring the court the statement which the minister declared his withdraw of defamation case on top of sufficient evidence to substantiate his case before the next Thursday. The judge also ordered that Mr Adan to be taken to the jail before he would be brought again to the court on 30 December.

Yusuf Ali Adan was brought to court in the second time on Thursday 30 December. The prosecutor read the same statement of the previous hearing. But the lawyer of the defendant claimed that the accusations against his client do not exist and have no legal basis since his client is innocent from what he has been accused. The lawyer again asked the judge to release Mr Adan and rule compensation for the journalist since he suffered health problems due to the illegal detention and atrocious prison conditions.

The judge finally declared that the prosecutor failed to bring the court any legal evidence against the journalist and so he ruled to release Yusuf Ali Adan. But the judge did not rule any compensation for Adan.

During the ruling of the court, members of Adan’s family, friends, journalists and human rights defenders were present at the court. After the ruling of the court took place, Mr Adan gained his freedom back and he left the court with some members of his family.

Yusuf Ali Adan was first time arrested 7th July 2010 when the administration soldiers captured him from Bossasso town. The soldiers later handed the reporter over to Puntland Intelligence Service (PIS) – counterterrorism agency of Puntland who kept the reporter incommunicado before they relocated him to the central prison in Bossasso

Source NUSOJ

Yusuf Journalist

Puntland Court Releases Reporter after 6 months in Jail