Borkena
Toronto – Ethiopia’s Federal Court Lideta Bench on Friday sentenced Taye Dendea, Former State Minister For Peace, to seven years and two months prison terms.
Last week the court cleared him from three charges and passed a guilty verdict in one of the charges.
He was found “guilty” of possession of what was described as an unlicensed fire arm – AK 47 rifle with 60 ammunition.
Abera Nigus, his lawyer, remarked that he respects the court decision but has filed complaints that three defense witnesses were not heard.
He argues their testimonial would have significantly cut down the prison terms. He has announced that he will appeal the court ruling.
Taye Dendea claims that he approached Deputy Commissioner of the Federal Police to make the arrangement to acquire AK 47 stating that he had “security concerns” and his body guards, assigned in connection with his Federal government position, were removed at the time.
The Deputy Commissioner, at the time, advised Taye to submit a letter of request to the office of the Prime Minister.
Then Taye requested the then Minister for Peace, Benalf Andualem who is currently serving as Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the United States, to write the letter for the office of the Prime Minister, it was reported.
However, Taye told the court that the minister advised him to process it verbally without the need to write a letter. An agreement was reached for him to arm himself with an AK 47 and he was provided with one.
Taye was a vocal critic of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, and has a huge social media following – particularly on Facebook on which he used to share his views regularly.
He was removed from his position as state minister for peace days after he described the Prime Minister as a “ruthless man who plays with the blood of innocent people.”
Apart from Taye Dendea, Ethiopian opposition parties tend to think that the government that Abiy Ahmed is leading is behind the massacre in different parts of the country particularly Oromia and Benishangul regions, and they have been calling for an independent investigation.
On the other hand, Abiy Ahmed’s government has been liking the security crisis in the region including the major conflicts in the Amhara region with external powers – presumably Egypt and Eritrea.
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