Somalian president's son dodges jail in deadly hit‑and-run by paying $900 fine

On November 30, 2023, 40-year-old Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Junior struck a motorcyclist while driving a black BMW with diplomatic license plates in Istanbul. The victim, Yunus Emre Gocer, was a city courier.

The accident, unfortunately, resulted in a fatality. Gocer passed away in the hospital on December 6, prompting a change in the case's status. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Junior became a suspect in unintentional murder. However, he had already left the country by the time the arrest warrant was issued.

But the warrant was withdrawn in early January when the accused returned to Turkey to provide his account of the events. The sentence was passed a few days later. According to CNN, citing local television station TRT Haber, the court replaced a 2.5-year imprisonment sentence with a fine. This fine, amounting to only 900 dollars, was fully paid, ensuring that Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Junior avoided jail time.

The minimal penalty caused public uproar and sparked controversy. The defense attorney for the victim's family confirmed that his clients had decided to withdraw their formal complaint against the Somalian president's son. However, the attorney did not disclose the reasons behind this decision.