Ethiopian Rporter
Published on July 18,2015
Andargachew Tsige, who was extradited from Yemen a year ago and faces the death penalty on terror charges, is to appear before court on Monday as defence witness in a separate trial.
The Federal High Court, nineteenth criminal bench, issued an order on Tuesday for Andargachew to appear before court following a petition by defendants in a case which has been pending for the last two years.
The defendants, who are ten in number, are defending terror charges for allegedly having clandestine relation with Ginbot 7, a group Andargachew was affiliated to and designated as terrorist by parliament.
In their charge, federal prosecutors have alleged that the defendants in Zemenu Kasse et al case of receiving military trainings in Eritrea and plotting to carryout acts of terror in Ethiopia including the assassination of government officials. Prosecutors further alleged that some of defendants have met Andargachew in Eritrea.
Five of the defendants, who are alleged to have met Andargachew, listed the Ginbot 7 leader as their defense witness and requested the court to issue summons for the Addis Ababa Prison Center.
Prosecutors had argued for the defendants’ petition to be rejected on grounds that Andargachew has been stripped off his civil rights following his past convictions.
However, the court rejected the prosecutions’ plea and ordered Andargachew to appear before court on Monday stating that his appearance will not be an exercise of civil rights but rather duties.
Read full report on Ethiopian Reporter