Turkish Court Fines Somali President’s Son $900 For Fatal Accident

A Turkish court has delivered a verdict in the case of Mohammed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the son of Somalia’s president, relating to a fatal accident involving a motorcycle courier. The court convicted him of “causing death by negligence” but commuted his sentence of two-and-a-half years in prison to a fine.

Prosecutors initially sought a prison sentence of up to six years for Mohammed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. However, the Istanbul court decided to impose a fine of 27,300 Turkish lira ($900) instead. Mohamud’s driver’s license was also revoked for a period of six months.

The accident occurred when Mohamud was driving a diplomatic car in Istanbul on November 30. His vehicle collided with a motorcycle courier, Yunus Emre Gocer, who was seriously injured and later succumbed to his injuries, passing away on December 6.

An arrest warrant was issued for Mohamud following Gocer’s death, but the president’s son had already left Turkey on December 2. He returned to Turkey last week to testify in the case, leading to the revocation of the arrest warrant and travel ban imposed on him. Mohamud maintained that the accident was unavoidable, claiming that the motorbike suddenly stopped.

In contrast, the police report suggested that Gocer, a father of two, had not violated any traffic rules, placing the primary blame on the car driver, Mohammed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The decision to commute the sentence to a fine has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters of the victim have expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the fine is inadequate given the circumstances of the case. Critics have raised concerns that justice may not have been served.

Gocer’s father plans to appeal the decision to convert the sentence to a fine, and the Courier Rights Association has questioned the fairness of this outcome.

Gocer’s tragic death initially raised concerns about potential diplomatic tensions between Turkey and Somalia. However, Somalia’s president asserted that his son did not flee Turkey and that he had advised him to cooperate with the judicial system. The president emphasised the importance of respecting Turkey’s laws and justice system, preserving the countries’ friendly relations.

Despite the outcome of this case, Turkey and Somalia have enjoyed improved diplomatic relations over the past decade. Turkey has played a significant role in Somalia’s development, contributing to infrastructure, military training, and humanitarian aid.

This verdict highlights the complexities of cases involving diplomatic figures and underscores the importance of maintaining the rule of law and justice in such matters.