Investigators Allege Syndicate Trafficked Over 30,000 Workers to Jordan on Forged Visas, Accumulating Millions in Illicit Proceeds and Frozen Assets
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — The Federal High Court, Lideta Division, First Instance Bench, has granted police an additional 11-day remand period to investigate 18 suspects, including senior Ministry of Labor and Skills officials, implicated in an extensive document forgery and financial corruption scheme.
The suspects—who include Birhanu Aleka Asgedom, Head of the Employment Labor Market Information System (ELMIS) unit, and Ermias Teklu Zenebe, Executive for Foreign Employment Placement and Licensing—were taken into custody on July 24, 2026. Eight ministry employees, two agency representatives, and eight brokers face charges of exploiting systemic vulnerabilities to execute illegal labor trafficking schemes.
Police told the court that the suspects sent over 30,000 Ethiopian workers to Jordan on fraudulent visas within a six-month window by issuing fake certificates of competence and forged employment contracts without mandatory training or exams. Investigators allege the group charged up to 25,000 Birr per individual, accumulating more than 200 million Birr in illicit proceeds.
According to police records, Birhanu Aleka manipulated the ELMIS database to disable automated alerts and force agencies into illegal side agreements. Investigators also allege the syndicate extorted up to 10 million Birr from legitimate placement agencies to lift arbitrary suspensions while granting legal coverage to five unauthorized agencies.
Audits conducted by the Federal Police resulted in freezing 261 million Birr deposited across two illicit bank accounts. Authorities also froze six residential properties and four vehicles registered under the names of the suspects, their family members, and associates.
During the court session, investigators requested a 14-day extension to complete system audits and depose remaining witnesses. Presiding judges reduced the petition, granting an 11-day extension retroactive to August 24, 2026. The court scheduled the next hearing for September 4, 2026, to review the finalized investigation file.
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