Ex-Warehouse Worker now Spy Chief - claim

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

BY TOM BENNETT

Channel 4's programme Warlords Next Door tracked down Mohammed Darwish, said to be the chief of the war-torn country's spy network who, it said, is now linked to allegations of mass murder, torture, extortion and corruption.

The programme says Mr Darwish, head of the country's National Security Agency (NSA), used to pack peas in a Tesco Express store and still has a home in Leicester.

The Dispatches documentary, screened last night, alleged the secret service has jailed and tortured hundreds of Somalis.

Reporter Aidan Hartley tracked down Mr Darwish's home in Leicester, but his son refused to be filmed.

He interviewed Mr Darwish in Somalia, who denies that the service is involved in torture and killings.

Refugees in Leicester's St Matthew's estate told the programme they had been told to hand over thousands of pounds to the secret service for the release of their families.

One man tells the film-makers on the TV programme: "The secret service ask for 3,000. I said I can't afford 3,000. That guy is a criminal really."

The film crew later travelled to Somalian capital Mogadishu, where one man tells him he was jailed without charge and saw another inmate who says his fingernails and toenails had been pulled out by torturers of the NSA.

Mr Hartley later interviewed Mr Darwish in Somalia.

He asked: "What about those who accuse you of arresting large numbers of people in Mogadishu, who are then held to ransom and only released when they pay a bribe?"

Mr Darwish replied: "That is ridiculous... It's not true...We are not torturing the people. We are not killing the people.

"But if you see someone who is really thinking the wrong way, we want to tell him 'please stop'. If he say no, if he say ' I am fighting' then we arrest him.

"We want to correct."

Later, three people die when the film crew's vehicle is hit by a roadside bomb, including two bystanders.

Back in the UK, Mr Hartley questioned British officials over why the Government continued to back the current Somali government, which was installed 17 months ago when Ethiopian forces seized Mogadishu from Islamic militants.

One Somali resident in Leicester, who did not wish to be named, told the Mercury: "I knew him when he was here. He used to work in a big distribution warehouse at junction 19.

"He was just a normal elderly member of the community.

"The programme-makers came here in April, and went to his family's address, but were turned away. I don't know what evidence they have about what he is alleged to have done."

Community activist Hashim Duale said that some members of the Leicester community supported the Somali government, while others opposed it.

He said: "The police did ask me whether it may have an effect, if there might be trouble after the programme goes out.

"Whatever happens in this documentary, it will not affect our community. It is stable and strong and has been together for 17 years, and can handle anything.

"My immediate concern is for the family of Mr Darwish. What is in the programme remains allegations until proven in a court."