Tuesday July 8, 2025
Garowe (HOL) — A man accused of sexually assaulting three
children, including two sisters under the age of 10, appeared in court in
Garowe on Monday in one of the most serious child abuse cases to surface in
Puntland in recent years.
Sharmarke Hussein Yusuf was charged with three counts of
rape and the physical abuse of a young boy, the brother of the two girls.
Prosecutors from the Nugaal regional court presented key evidence, including
CCTV footage allegedly showing the suspect picking up the children in his car.
According to the prosecution, Sharmarke lured the
children—who come from internally displaced families—by claiming he would take
them to their homes in the IDP neighborhoods of Garowe. Instead, he allegedly
drove them to a remote area, where he is accused of sexually assaulting the
girls and torturing their younger brother.
In court, the defendant denied the charges, stating that he
had committed no crime. His defense attorney argued that there was no direct
evidence proving that rape had occurred.
The trial has sparked renewed concern over the vulnerability
of children, especially those from low-income families. In Garowe and across
Puntland, many young girls are sent to work as domestic helpers in homes to
support their families, exposing them to heightened risks of exploitation and
abuse.
The court proceedings are ongoing, and no verdict has yet
been announced.
