Thursday October 9, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Nugal Regional Court on Wednesday sentenced
Sharmarke Hussein Yusuf to 25 years in prison after finding him guilty of kidnapping
and raping three women, including two young sisters, in Garowe.
In its ruling, the court described Sharmarke as a habitual
offender and a danger to society, noting that he had previously been convicted
of raping one of the same victims in 2020.
newsinisdeThe court also ordered the defendant to pay a $25,000 fine,
which will be distributed to the victims as compensation. The verdict, the
court said, sends a strong warning to others who might commit similar crimes.
“This sentence serves as a message to anyone who dares to
commit such acts,” said Abdikarin Mohamed Nur, chairman of the Nugal Regional
Court. He added that the defendant has one month to appeal the ruling if he
wishes to challenge the decision.
The case, which has gripped the Garowe community for months,
involved young women from impoverished families who had moved to the city
seeking work to support their parents.
According to police, Sharmarke abducted one of the victims
earlier this year and raped her. Investigators used CCTV footage to identify
and arrest the suspect days later.
Community members have widely welcomed the court’s ruling,
viewing it as a rare but vital step toward justice for victims of sexual
violence in Puntland.