The First-Degree Military Court of the Somali Armed Forces has arraigned two soldiers and a civilian motorbike rider accused of committing an armed robbery in Ceelasha Biyaha, Lower Shabelle region. The case has drawn attention after one of the accused soldiers allegedly detonated a hand grenade that injured a police officer during their arrest.
According to court documents, the suspects who were traveling on a two-wheeled motorbike were accused of robbing a Qur’an teacher and several students, stealing more than four mobile phones during the attack. The suspects were later captured following a police operation launched after the victims reported the incident to the Ceelasha Biyaha Police Station.
During the arrest, prosecutors told the court that one of the soldiers initially refused to surrender his weapon. After pressure from the police, he eventually handed over his rifle, but moments later, a hand grenade concealed in the rifle’s pouch detonated. The explosion injured the police commander leading the arrest, according to testimony presented before the court.
The court session, chaired by Colonel Hassan Ali Nur Shuute, the Chief Judge of the First-Degree Military Court, heard detailed statements from the Office of the Military Prosecutor, defense lawyers, victims, arresting officers, and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigator handling the case.
Judge Shuute announced that the court would deliberate on the evidence presented before delivering its ruling, stating that justice would be served based on the testimonies and material proof submitted by all parties involved.
The Somali military court system has in recent years handled a growing number of cases involving armed robbery, misuse of military equipment, and breaches of discipline within the security forces as part of broader government efforts to enforce accountability and restore public trust in the armed institutions.
