This archive report was first published on 24 August 2020.
On August 24, 2020, a Somali court handed down jail sentences to four government officials for their involvement in the theft of public funds allocated for Covid-19 emergency response.
The Banadir Regional Court, which covers crimes committed in Mogadishu and surrounding areas, found the officials guilty following a high-profile case that drew public scrutiny over the use of the funds.
The case began in April 2020, just a month after Somalia reported its first case of Covid-19. At that time, the Ministry of Health revealed that several officials were under investigation for diverting public money.
According to court documents, the officials were found guilty of committing corrupt acts and sentenced to different terms as well as imposed varying fines.
The Sentences ¶
Abdullahi Hashi Ali, the director-general of the Ministry of Health, was sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of Somali Sh 59,170,000 (approximately $2,366).
Mohamoud Bulle Mohamoud, the ministry's director of administration, was sentenced to 18 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of $2,366.
Mahdi Abshir Mohamed, the head of a project called Wacyigelinta Caafimaadka (health awareness), was sentenced to 12 years in jail and ordered to pay a fine of the same amount.
Bashir Abdi Nur, who heads the ministry's malaria and HIV/AIDS department, was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of $1,183.
Corruption in Somalia ¶
The jailing of the officials could be seen as a rare warning in a country known for its high levels of corruption. In 2019, Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index listed Somalia as the most corrupt country among 180 nations polled, scoring nine out of 100 marks on governance, accountability, and transparency.
