By: Hassan Yarrow
SOMALIA—A Banadir regional court in Mogadishu on Friday sentenced a 70-year-old man to seven years in prison. He was also fine $3,000 for money laundering and providing funds to the militant group Al-Shabab.
The defendant, Ali Hussein Isaac, was accused of transferring half a million dollars from his personal account to support al-Shabab’s operations.
The court delivered a split sentence, with four years for the terror financing charge and an additional three years for the money laundering offense.
“The court has taken a firm position in addressing the financial networks that enable the activities of al-Shabab,” stated Saleh cali mohamud , the Magistrate of the Banadir regional court. Adding “This sentence serves as a clear message that such crimes will not be tolerated.”
The Somali government has recently intensified its crackdown on the financial infrastructure supporting al-Shabab activities.
Hundreds of bank accounts and mobile phones linked to the militant group have been shut down during this period in a bid to disrupt the group’s funding channels.
