Current:Home > NewsSomali president’s son reportedly testifies in Turkey as he is accused of killing motorcyclist-LoTradeCoin
Somali president’s son reportedly testifies in Turkey as he is accused of killing motorcyclist
View Date:2024-12-24 00:34:16
ISTANBUL (AP) — The son of Somalia’s president testified at an Istanbul court on Friday about the death of a motorcycle courier in the city, Turkish media reported.
An arrest warrant had been issued for Mohammed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud after a diplomatic car he was driving allegedly hit Yunus Emre Gocer, 38, on a highway in Istanbul on Nov. 30. Gocer died in a hospital six days later, by which time Mohamud had left Turkey.
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said last month that he had discussed the case with his Somalian counterpart to arrange Mohamud’s return.
The private Demiroren News Agency reported that the arrest warrant and a travel ban were revoked after Mohamud gave a statement at Caglayan courthouse. He was then released by the court, the agency said.
Mohamud offered no plea, instead repeating the statement he gave immediately after the crash saying the courier was at fault, Demiroren reported.
An indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office calls for a prison sentence of two to six years for “causing death by negligence.” It was unclear when any future hearing would be held.
The death had threatened to sour friendly relations between Turkey and Somalia. Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and a prominent opposition politician, accused the government of “being too weak to defend the rights of its own citizens.”
Turkey launched an investigation into officials who conducted the initial crash investigation and reportedly allowed Mohamud to go free.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told The Associated Press last month that his 40-year-old son, who is a doctor, did not flee Turkey and said he had advised him to present himself to court.
“Turkey is a brotherly country,” the president said. “We respect the laws and the justice and the judicial system. As a president of Somalia, I will never allow anybody to violate this country’s judicial system.”
Turkey has built close ties with Somalia since 2011, when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — then prime minister — visited the East African nation in a show of support as Somalis suffered from severe drought. Turkey has provided humanitarian aid, built infrastructure and opened a military base in Somalia where it has trained officers and police.
veryGood! (97554)
Related
- NFL coaches diversity report 2024: Gains at head coach, setbacks at offensive coordinator
- Trump’s history-making hush money trial starts Monday with jury selection
- Four people charged in the case of 2 women missing from Oklahoma
- Divisive? Not for moviegoers. ‘Civil War’ declares victory at box office.
- Shocked South Carolina woman walks into bathroom only to find python behind toilet
- Suspect in Maddi Kingsbury killing says his threat she would end up like Gabby Petito was a joke
- Gun supervisor for ‘Rust’ movie to be sentenced for fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin on set
- The Civil War raged and fortune-seekers hunted for gold. This era produced Arizona’s abortion ban
- Vogue Model Dynus Saxon Charged With Murder After Stabbing Attack
- Reba McEntire Reveals If She'd Get Married for a 3rd Time
Ranking
- Anti-abortion advocates press Trump for more restrictions as abortion pill sales spike
- As the Federal Government Proposes a Plan to Cull Barred Owls in the West, the Debate Around ‘Invasive’ Species Heats Up
- Cryptocurrency is making lots of noise, literally
- Scottie Scheffler, Masters leaders have up-and-down day while Tiger Woods falters
- Women’s baseball players could soon have a league of their own again
- Semiautomatic firearm ban passes Colorado’s House, heads to Senate
- Judge refuses to dismiss federal gun case against Hunter Biden
- Here's the maximum Social Security benefit you can collect if you're retiring at 70 this year
Recommendation
-
Gerry Faust, former Notre Dame football coach, dies at 89
-
Supreme Court rejects appeal from Black Lives Matter activist over Louisiana protest lawsuit
-
Divisive? Not for moviegoers. ‘Civil War’ declares victory at box office.
-
Poland's parliament backs easing of abortion laws, among the strictest in Europe
-
Giuliani’s lawyers after $148M defamation judgment seek to withdraw from his case
-
Bald eagle eats 2 of its hatchlings in West Virginia out of 'confusion', officials say
-
How LIV Golf players fared at 2024 Masters: Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith tie for sixth
-
Maine is latest state to approve interstate compact for social worker licenses