An accused Somali war criminal has been driving for Uber and Lyft in the suburbs of Northern Virginia for the past 18 months.
An investigation by CNN reveled that Yusuf Abdi Ali, also known as “Colonel Tukeh,” has been working full time for the companies and is an “Uber Pro Diamond” driver with a 4.89 rating.
Ali told undercover reporters who were riding with him that it was easy to get approved to drive for the companies.
“They just want your background check; that’s it,” Ali said. “If you apply tonight, maybe after two days, it will come, you know, everything.”
Ali is accused of committing war crimes in the 1980s while serving as a military commander under then-Somali leader Mohamed Siad Barre. A documentary by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation featured eyewitnesses who claim that he was known to have directed brutal torture and executions.
“Two men were caught, tied to a tree. Oil was poured on them and they were burnt alive. I saw it with my own eyes. I cut away their remains,” a witness said in the documentary.
Uber has taken steps to better prevent against unwanted drivers. Convictions disqualify drivers and people who have been accused of serious crimes but have not yet been convicted are also not permitted to drive.
After news of Ali’s occupation was released, Uber suspended Ali pending review and Lyft permanently banned him.
Ali is also facing a federal civil suit brought by Farhan Mohamoud Tani Warfaa, one of his alleged victims. Warfaa alleges that Ali tortured, shot him, and ordered guards to bury his body, but that the guards realized he survived and accepted a bribe from Warfaa’s family to release him.
Ali denies that he committed any of the atrocities he has been accused of.
