A presidential candidate in the Somalia elections has pleaded with the High Court to allow him to travel to his country and launch his campaigns.
The politician was charged with fraud in Kenya and is beseeching the High Court in Nairobi to release his passport so that he can travel to Mogadishu.
Mohamed Yassin Ismael has a pending Ksh4million fraud case before the Makadara Law Courts. His lawyer, John Khaminwa, pleaded with Justice Grace Nzioka to order the court's deputy registrar to released Yassin's passport.
“Ismael be allowed to obtain his passport confiscated by the respondents to enable him to urgently travel to Turkey for medication and to participate in the presidential polls slated for May 20, 2022,” Khaminwa stated.
He argued that Yassin has since settled the lawsuit, further arguing that time was against him as his competitors have hit the ground running in search of votes.
“The presidential hopeful has asked me to inform this court that once he clinches Somalia’s top seat, he will root for the country to become a member of the East African Community,” Khaminwa told the court.
“He is being subjected to the rigorous criminal justice system in the Makadara case despite the parties having opted for an out of court settlement."
Ismael was advanced USD40,000 (Ksh4 million) by a businessman, Guleed Kuno Mursai, to buy a house and delays in payment led to the court case. However, the parties involved agreed to settle the matter out of court.
“The dispute resolution was brokered by Somali elders and the mode of payment agreed upon, but the suit has been converted to a criminal dispute for ulterior motives,” Khaminwa added.
“The complainant conscientiously agreed to the withdrawal of the complaint against Ismael. The judge was prevailed upon to determine the matter since Ismael seeks to participate in the Somalian presidential elections slated for May 20."
The Makadara Law court, through the investigating officer, heard that Yasmin under false pretence told Mohamed Omar Hassan he was in a position to buy him a residential House, thus obtaining the cash from Hassan on February 6, at Juja Estate in Pangani, Starehe Sub County.
