Turkey Fines Son of Somali President Over Car Accident That Killed a Courier

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The son of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Mohammed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was convicted guilty by an Istanbul court in Turkey of killing a motorcycle courier in an automobile accident. 

But the court chose to substitute a fine for his original two-and-a-half-year prison term. Mohamud's prosecution has requested a maximum six-year prison sentence.

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Reportedly, the court imposed a fine of 27,300 Turkish lira ($900) on Mohamud and revoked his driver's license for six months. The event happened on November 30 in Istanbul when a diplomatic car driven by Mohamud collided with courier Yunus Emre Gocer. Six days after his injuries, Gocer passed away.

Following Gocer's death, an arrest warrant was issued for Mohamud. However, he had already left Turkey by December 2. Last week, Mohamud returned to Turkey to provide testimony. After his statement to court officials, the arrest warrant and travel ban were lifted, and he was subsequently released.

Mohamud denied negligence, claiming that the motorcycle suddenly stopped and that the collision was unavoidable. Nevertheless, the police report indicated that Gocer, a father of two, had not violated any traffic rules and that the car driver was primarily at fault.

The decision to commute Mohamud's sentence was met with criticism from Gocer's father and members of the Courier Rights Association. They expressed disappointment over the reduced penalty, stating that justice was not served.

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The incident had the potential to strain relations between Turkey and Somalia. However, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud emphasized that his son had not fled Turkey and urged him to comply with the judicial process. The president affirmed his respect for Turkey's legal system and emphasized the importance of upholding the country's laws and justice.

Turkey has been actively involved in Somalia's development, particularly in construction, education, and healthcare, as part of its efforts to strengthen its ties with the Horn of Africa nation.


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