A high tribunal court in Mogadishu upheld a death penalty sentence against Hassan Hanafi found guilty of killing five journalists and media workers between 2007 – 2009.
“After evidences, we we found him guilty of assassinating five journalists, the high court of the Somalia’s armed forces upheld the death sentence against Hassan Hanafi Hajji,” said Liban Ali Yarow, the chairman of the army court.
The defendant had previously appealed his conviction on murder charges, but the high court has dismissed during Friday’s hearing.
Hanafi who worked as Al shabaab media officer was captured by Somali intelligence agency forces while trying to escape justice and sneak into nighbouring Kenya in 2014, the court judge said.
