‘Astaan TV is A Stain on Our Conscience:’ says Wadani Party Spokesperson

Hargeisa– On the 27 of the last month, Astaan Entertainment TV founder Abdimanan Yusuf was thrown behind bars, and the Wadani Party spokesperson Barkhad Jama Batuun said, ‘We (the party) tried to visit the investor from Somalia who is in custody of the government of Somaliland but we were denied; his parents as well were not allowed to see him’.

‘We overhead that the Astaan TV owner is experiencing torture in the hands of his captors because they want force him to admit charges they cooked for him or sign a document without the right to read or alter!’ added Mr Batuun.

The party official said Somaliland government is responsible for protecting Somaliland citizenry and investors worldwide, but this unlawful and arbitrary arrests may endanger the livelihood of Somalilanders elsewhere in Somalia.

Years back, Somaliland government sheltered Somali pirates transferred from Seychelles to collect some fees from outside sources but the pirates active in the Indian Ocean hijacked merchant ships belonged to Somalilanders in revenge. If convicted criminals had someone to avenge for them, what the families of this victim will do is yet unpredictable.

Mogul of this entertainment empire in Somalia and Somaliland rose to fame when his business attained fame and fortune, however, his whereabouts is unknown. Story of his arrest is conflicting from business jealousy to fabricated charges of espionage to clan affiliation. Due to this, the government justice department couldn’t bring him to court while his 7 remand days is over.