Ali Mahdi Mohammad, a former President of Somalia, has returned public funds that he was accused of stealing while in office.
The 81-year old former leader, returned the money that he believes “was stolen from the government unjustifiably.”
Mohammad led Somalia as its first president during the early days of the Civil War in the 1990s.
While giving an interview to a local TV station, he admitted that public funds were stolen during his tenure.
He said that the decision to return the money came about after a meeting he had with religious leaders in the country.
Mohammad stated that he took Sh. 25,000 from public funds in 1968.
Recently, he visited the Central Bank for help in determining how much the money is worth today.
Central Bank officials advised him that the money is worth $4,045.
Mohammad said that he returned the funds in 2015 after speaking with the then President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Subsequently, he deposited the money with the Central Bank.
His admission is likely to boost the anti-corruption efforts by authorities in Somalia.