witness

The serene edifice of the federal courthouse in downtown Minneapolis stands as a silent witness to many tales of justice. On a sultry afternoon of May 5, 2022, this stately structure cradled another narrative—one steeped in shame and regret. As captured by Ben Hovland for the Sahan Journal, it seemed almost surreal that within its chambers, lives were unraveling. Qamar Hassan, co-owner of a Minneapolis catering firm, stood on the stand, shoulders bowed under the weight of a confounding $250 million fraud conspiracy. "Every…

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A federal judge, in a bold move to preserve justice, has clamped down on courtroom access amid the Feeding Our Future fraud trial after alarming allegations arose. Could tampering be at play? It might sound like a movie plot, but the reality in Judge Nancy Brasel's courtroom is a somber one, as she now navigates allegations of an attempt by a defendant's associate to compromise a key witness. On Wednesday, Judge Brasel announced a severe restriction: anyone associated with defendants in related cases, but…

In a historic moment that echoes throughout the annals of American democracy, Donald Trump has been inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States. The grand ceremony unfolded this afternoon within the iconic confines of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. It’s a scene steeped in irony, given that just four short years ago, a mob of Trump's ardent supporters stormed the very halls of this sanctuary of democracy in a desperate bid to overturn his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Today, with a flourish, President…

The city of Los Angeles, known for its sunny beaches and Hollywood glamour, is now grappling with a catastrophic wildfire crisis that has claimed at least 14 lives, forcing more than 150,000 residents to flee their homes in search of safety. Picture a vibrant metropolis under siege, where thick plumes of smoke choke the skyline and the air is thick with uncertainty. Since Tuesday, a series of relentless blazes have surged through the city—an inferno painting a devastating portrait of destruction. As the flames crackle and…

Yesterday afternoon, the Pacific Ocean became the stage for a stunning celestial spectacle: an annular eclipse that transformed daylight into a remarkable "ring of fire." This rare phenomenon captivated onlookers, but only those on Easter Island, as well as a small area at the southern extremities of Chile and Argentina, had the privilege of witnessing it directly. The whole event transpired in mere minutes, but its beauty lingered much longer in the minds of observers. What exactly is an annular eclipse? It occurs when the…

Since May 24, the International Criminal Court has heard a key witness in the trial of Patrice-Édouard Ngaïssona and Alfred Yekatom, accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in 2013 and 2014 in the Central African Republic. Joachim Kokaté spoke about the first steps in anti-balaka and revealed the content of the meetings organized in exile by the dismissed President François Bozizé.…

New hearing on Wednesday, March 24 in the trial of Rwandan opponent Paul Rusesabagina and new controversy. Prosecution witness Michelle Martin, a U.S. citizen, testified in court that she was employed by the Rwandan government in 2012 for academic support. Relatives of the opponent accuse him of being an agent of the Rwandan government and condemn a travesty of justice. Michelle Martin began her testimony by introducing herself as a former volunteer at the Hotel Rwanda Foundation Paul Rusesabagina. Before the verdicts,…