A Mogadishu court has today issued a verdict on the case of embattled Goobjoog Media Group Assistant Director and editor, Abdiaziz Gurbiye.
The hearing of the case of the popular Journalist has been heard by the Court in Banadir and charges of prejudice and false information dissemination using media has been read out to him in court session.
Abdiazizi Gurbiye was accused of airing a story alleging an embezzlement of COVID-19 Kitty and equipments meant for Somalia’s Corona Virus adverse mitigation by Somali President Mohammed Abdullahi Farmajo.
The Somalia media groups and rights have several times drummed up support for the exoneration of charges facing the Goobjoog Assistant Director.
The media watch group termed the incarceration and the charges leveled against the Mogadishu based Journalist as baseless and only meant to muzzle the Media in Somalia.
The court in its verdict today slapped a hefty fine of 5 Million Somali shillings and a 6- months imprisonment.
The defense lawyers representing the besieged Journalist made several attempts in court to exonerate the charges leveled against the Journalist arguing that the case were disputes relating to media and can be settled only in a media tribunal and has no relevance and basis in the country’s judicial system.
BY OSMAN HUSSEIN ALI
