Somaliland journalist released after paying fines

Somaliland authorities today released the editor of local television station whom a court sentenced to one year in prison and three million shillings of fine.

Abdiqadir Coday, the editor of Horn Cable Tv, regained his freedom today after two months in custody. He was released from Hargeisa Central Prison on Sunday morning.

Abdiqdir Oday was welcomed at the prison gate by the head of Somaliland’s Journalists’ Association Mohamud Abdi Jama Huto. Mr. Huuto announced that the government lawyers dropped their appeal against the court ruling. 

Today we are announcing here that the prosecutor general’s office has dropped their appeal against the court ruling as we have requested yesterday. They have answered our plea, and today they have written an official letter to drop their appeal. Today Abdiqadir Coday is free. 

SOLJA CHAIRMAN

The freed journalist thanked all the people who worked on his release including SOlJA, Somaliland Journalists and his colleagues. He reported that he was treated well in detention, especially by the new chief of the criminal investigation department and new police commissioner.

Abdikadir Saleebaan Ali, the editor of Horn Cable Tv,  was arrested November last year for running a story the government deemed propaganda against Hargeisa airport. The story in question was a letter from Fly Dubai complaining of operations at Egal International Airport. It alleged gross negligence that compelled a nightly flight to be diverted to another airport because of an unlit runway.

He was sentenced to one year in prison and to pay three million Somaliland Shillings in fines. According to Somaliland’s penal code, prison sentences lesser than two years can be converted to a monetary fine.

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