Borkena
Toronto – Ethiopian government has arrested eleven top officials over alleged corruption. The government alleges that they were involved in corruption related fertilizer procurement.
Much of the corruption was in the Agricultural Works Corporation.
Police reported that the suspects were “investigated,” charged and sent them to jail.
They allegedly “violated” representations they were given from regional governments. Board Members Decisions, purchasing guidelines and agreements of the corporation.
The total amount of financial loss linked to the alleged corruption scandal is $40,296,860 or nearly 5.7 billion Ethiopian birr.
The report also indicated that the government initiated an investigation into it, which was completed within a short time, as police indicated.
News release the Federal Police shared on its facebook page listed the names of eleven suspects, as it puts it, and their official roles :
- Kigle Woldemariam Woldeselassie, Executive Director of Agricultural Works Corporation
- Woldeab Demissie Kibret, Agricultural Input and Supply Sector Deputy Director and Chair of Fertilizer Purchase Committee
- Tensay Mecha Woldeselassie, Member of Fertilizer Purchasing Committee and Deputy Executive of Corporate Resource Management
- Menbere Hailemariam Negassa, Finance Sector Deputy Executive and Member of the Purchasing Committee
- Million Geremew Eshetu, Senior Purchasing Officer, and Secretary and member of Fertilizer purchasing committee
- Solomon Gebre Melake, Agricultural Products Productivity Sector Supply Executive and member of purchasing committee
- Mengistu Tesfa La’ke, Input Supply Executive, Member of Purchasing Committee and Chair of the Technical Team
- Zelalem Dagne Rorrisa, Input Purchasing and Transit Unit Executive
- Captain Wondwossen Kassa Assefa, Ethiopian Sea Transit and Logistics Deputy Executive
- Tsegaye Berhe, Ethiopian Conformity Assessment Enterprise, Inspection Directorate Director
- Alebachew Moltot, Ethiopian Conformity Assessment Enterprise, Djibouti Branch Office Head
It is unclear, at the time of this writing, what they had to say about the allegation or if they are represented by a lawyer.
The story has triggered conversation on social media. Many seem to think that serious corruption prevalent across governmental offices and many more cases would be revealed if investigated.
Police vows it will continue investigation other suspected cases
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