Ahmed Abdi Igeh the editor in chief of Hatuf Newspaper and Yusuf Abdi Gabobe who is the owner of the publication were sentenced to 3 years in jail while they are required to pay nine hundred US dollars each.
The same court also invalidated the license of the Newspaper in which it said will not be permitted to operate in the self declared state of Somaliland.
Prosecutor Aden Salad Said who spoke to the media after the verdict was announced said that the two journalists were found guilty of spreading false information and defamation against government officials adding that the verdict was based on Somaliland’s press law however the defense lawyer the two journalists blasted the court’s decision saying it was unlawful and unconstitutional decision which violates Somaliland’s press law.
The two journalists were arrested in April after the self declared police officers raided the headquarters of the publication in Hargeisa over accusations of spreading falsehood information and defamation against the state.
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