 |
|
Court
sends corrupt guy to jail Addis Ababa-(FEACC)-The Federal
High Court sentenced former employee of the Addis Ababa Water and
Sewerage Authority on 24 February 2010 to five years of rigorous
imprisonment and fined him 5,000 Birr for serious breach of trust. The Court found Tamirat Berhanu guilty of embezzling 49,841.30
Birr of public money while working as a finance officer in the Gullelie
and Gurd Shola Branches of the Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority
from 2004-2006. The convict failed to defend the corruption charges brought to
him by the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission of Ethiopia and
received the verdict, it was learned. |
|
Court
sends corrupt individuals to jail Addis Ababa (FEACC)-The Federal
High Court sentenced eight individuals from 7-10 years of rigorous
imprisonment and handed them out with fines ranging from 3,000-20,000
Birr on 19 February 2010 in connection with blatant and barefaced land
grab valued at 208 million Birr here in the Metropolis. According to the Court, Muleme Rashid, Lema Degfie, Dehab
Gebrehiwot, and Miftah Abdu, who were all public servants here in the
Capital, abused their powers for personal gain and illegally benefiting
others in the year 2007. Corruptors Konjit Desta, Mekonnen Wollelaw, Yossef Getnet, and
Solomon Girma were also accused of illegal enrichment and hurting
government interests, as they were involved in the illegal grabbing of
some 120, 000 square meter of urban land. The convicts failed to defend the charges brought to them by the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission and were thus jailed and fined. |
|
Court
Sends Six Corrupt Guys to Jail Addis Ababa (FEACC)-The Federal
High Court sentenced four employees of the Bole Sub-City and their
accomplices to rigorous imprisonment ranging from 1-3 years on 11
February 2010 for committing corruption crimes and for being accomplices
to the crimes. According to the Court, Former Secretary at the Sub-City,
Kropa Gebrelibanos, and Former Officers of Civil Status at the same
Sub-City, Abebech Terefe and Mesfin Asfaw, had been preparing and
issuing illegal birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates through
corruption. Accomplices to the crime, Solomon Idris, Berhanu Admasu, and
Cheru Mengesha, were tasked with distributing the illegal certificates
among corruptors in exchange for illegal benefits and inducements. Thus, the Court sentenced Kropa Gebrelibanos to three years of
rigorous imprisonment, with Solomon Idris, Berhanu Admasu, and Cheru
Mengesha receiving two years of rigorous imprisonment each. Abebech
Tefera and Mesfin Assefa were also handed out one year of rigorous
imprisonment. |
|
Commissions
hold joint conference The Joint Conference, which was organized by the Gambella
Regional State Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission, was held with a
view to strengthening and reinforcing the collaboration of
anti-corruption commissions and organs in the national struggle against
corruption. The Conference would also create an opportunity for sharing
experience among anti-corruption institutions in the Country in
preventing and fighting corruption, the organizers said. Opening the Conference, Vice President of the Gambella
Regional State, Guaner Yer Yegam, said that the national anti-corruption
struggle, which was believed to contribute significantly to the
enhancement of the democratic and development processes in the Country,
has reached a pivotal stage. Participants intensively deliberated on the performance
reports of the anti-corruption commissions, it was learned. |
|
Suspects of serious
trickery arrested The Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission of Ethiopia (FEACC) arrested four suspects red-handed on January 6, 2010 for allegedly trying to sell 10-killogram gilded silver, deceptively claiming that it was gold. The suspects were
looking for buyers claiming that they had more than 100 Kg of gold and
diamond for sale, it was learned. The FEACC arrested the suspects based
on the tip-off it received from whistleblowers about the suspected
trickery and deception. The investigators of the
FEACC disguised themselves as buyers and agreed to buy 10 Kg of
‘gold’, which in reality was gilded silver, for some 2.5 million
Birr. Upon further
investigation after the arrest, it was found out that the case wasn’t
within the its jurisdiction, the Commission added. The Commission had,
therefore, transferred the case to the Addis Ababa Police Commission for
further investigation. The FEACC urged the general public to be watchful of such tricksters and called for them to inform relevant authorities when they come across such kinds of trickeries. |
|
Officials,
civil servants receive training of trainers Addis Ababa (FEACC)-
Trainers
of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission of Ethiopia (FEACC)
offered training of trainers from 11-15, 2010, in Jijiga Town to
senior officials, civil servants and other trainees drawn from various
cross-sections of the society in the Somali Regional State. The training focused on the definitions, causes,
manifestations, consequences, threats of corruption and mechanisms and
strategies for tackling it, it was learned. The training was envisaged to support and strengthen the
efforts of the Regional Government in its effort to create a society
that was not conducive to corruption and impropriety. It would also help
the regional state to enhance development and make the necessary
preparations for establishing its own ethics and anti-corruption
commission in the years to come. Some 117 trainees, 22 of which were women, were in attendance of the training of trainers programme, it was learned. |
|
Court
sentences offender to seven years of imprisonment, fines him 10,000 Birr
Addis Ababa (FEACC)-The Federal High Court sentenced former
employee of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, who stole 188, 712.47 Birr
from his employer (the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia), to seven years of
rigorous imprisonment and fined him 10, 000 Birr on 22 December 2009. Biruk Wondimu, who received the verdict in absentia, had been
a teller at the Mahatemegandi Branch of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia
before he was charged with stealing the stated amount of money by the
Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission of Ethiopia on 26 December
2008, it was learned. The convict, who was accused of committing serious breach of
trust in order to enrich himself illegally, had already disappeared with
the money. |
|
Court
Gives 10 to 14 Years Imprisonment The first Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court,
on 31 December 2009, sentenced six individuals who were convicted of
unlawful wealthier from 10-14 years imprisonment and 5,000 to 20,000
birr fine. The convicts were found guilty of illegal and fake practice in commercial bank of Ethiopia Arada Georges branch. According to the charge filed by the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption commission, Daniel Bekele, who was an IT professional at the Bank from February 2001 to November 2002 G.C, used the password given to him by the bank to transfer a total of 3,627.300 birr at different times from the saving account of different customers to the account of five individuals with fake names. Daniel deposited the stated amount of money in the account of Belete Meaza, Bizunesh Abebe, Henok Zerihun, Samuel Bekele (his brother) and Yekurabachew Yelma. Samuel Bekele opened a current account in his own name at the Nagadres Branch of Abyssinia Bank and deposited there a substantial sum of money. The prosecutor stated all the individuals shared
the money embezzled from the Bank. Daniel left the country after with
drawing the money through different individuals. After he fled the
country his brother made payments to the individuals involved in the
crime. According to the charge given by the court, Daniel
Bekele in absentia given 14 years rigorous imprisonment and 20,000 birr
fine, Belete Maeza to 12 years imprisonment and 20,000 birr fine, Samuel
Bekele to 10 years of imprisonment and 5,000 birr fine, Bizunesh Abebe
in absentia and Yekurabachew Yelema each got 10 years imprisonment and
15,000 birr fine. The individuals were found guilty as they were unable to disprove the doucumentary and testamentary evidences presented by the prosecution. |
|
The
Federal Ethics and Anticorruption Commission has launched trial
implementation of the Business Process Reengineering (BPR) it conducted
starting from February, 2008. The
launching of the trial implementation has been put into effect starting
from December 21, 2009 and this was officially announced by According
to the outcome of the BPR, the Commission comprises seven directorates,
four services and two offices and stuffed with the necessary manpower, Commissioner
Ali Sulaiman, on the occasion, said the staffing of the Commission’s
manpower has been carried out based on procedures developed for this
purpose and accomplished in transparent manner with the aim to join the
right person with the right position. He
also said that the majority of the staffers have positive opinion to the
staffing with only 24 lodged complaints out of the over 230 manpower in
the commission. This will also be critically examined according to
complaint handling procedures set for this purpose. The
current staffing of the Commission’s manpower is provisional and
reshuffling could be made after the trial period based on their job
accomplishment, he added. It
was also noted that some changes could be made on some working
procedures after the trial period that would hinder the smooth work flow
. Finally the Commissioner called upon the staffers of the commission to work diligently in order to realize anticipated outcomes with new vision and working sprit. |
|
Ex-FEACC
staff member gets eight years prison term Tsegaye Hailu, ex-junior
investigator at the FEACC, conspired with Assefa Elias, ex- Deputy
Sergeant with the Federal Police Commission, and took 10,000 birr in
bribes from executive committee members of Gisla Shoe Cooperative No. 2. The convicts struck a
deal with the executive committee of the Cooperative to legalize Gisla
Shoe Cooperative No.1, whose case was under investigation by the FEACC
while promised to drop the investigation being conducted in connection
with Gisla Shoe Cooperative No.2 and in return they demanded 400,000
birr in bribes, the charge leveled against them reads. Accordingly, the FEACC
on 24 January 2008 caught them red-handed while taking 10,000 in bribes. In addition, the FEACC, in the course of the investigation, found out that Tsegaye Hailu, who used to earn just 2185 birr a month and a father of four, had purchased a share worth 100,000 birr from Anbesa International Bank.Thus he was also charged with owing money whose source was unidentified. |
|
FEACC
provides office room, facilities to CoST-Ethiopia In
addition, the FEACC has made available utilities, like water, power, and
cleaning service. The
FEACC also played considerable role in the initiation of the national
CoST action plan and establishment of the national executive committee
of CoST. The
Commissioner of the FEACC, H.E. Mr. Ali Sulaiman, who is also the
national CoST Champion, has been playing tremendous role in facilitating
communication between the national multi-stakeholder group executive
committee and relevant bodies as well as promoting the Initiative. The
country office has currently identified four procuring bodies on the
basis of their budget allocation and the Government’s top priority
areas. The
identified procuring entities are the Ethiopian Roads Authority, the
Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Water
Resources. CoST
is an international multi-stakeholder initiative designed to increase
transparency and accountability in the construction sector. It aims to
enhance the accountability of procuring bodies and construction
companies for the cost and quality of public-sector construction
projects. CoST
is being piloted for over two year period. There are seven pilot
countries in total including |
|
Embassy
gives orientation to Commission’s staff Briefing some 16
members of the Commission’s staff at the Embassy’s compound, Mrs.
Eyerusalem Ashenafi, Director of the Information Center (IRC), said that
the Center was open for visitors on appointment. According to her, the
Center provides accurate and up-to-date information and background about
the The Center assists
people from different cross-sections of the society with professional or
scholarly interest in the The |
|
December
9 celebrated colourfully in Ethiopia All those activities and events focused on
raising public awareness on the need to prevent and do away with corruption
and impropriety. The Commission used the events to enlighten the various
cross-sections of the society about the dangerous consequences and threats
of corruption at local, national, and international levels. The events were
designed and conducted in a way that enhances public participation in the
struggle against corruption. The Commission also used the occasions to
strengthen partnerships in the struggle against corruption at all levels. In
a similar vein, the International Anti-corruption Day was celebrated in most
of the regional states. The commemoration of the International
Anti-corruption Day is meant to bring the international community together
in the combat against corruption. While celebrating December 9 every year,
the international community should emphasize the need for a united front
against corruption. The whole purpose and intention of the celebration is to
synchronize and coordinate the efforts of the international community
against corruption. The annual celebration of the Day should, therefore,
serve this purpose. |
|
Commissioner
confers with ADB resident representative The Commissioner of the
Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission of Ethiopia H.E. Commissioner Ali on the
occasion briefed Mr. Barrow on the over all activities of the FEACC,
corruption level in the country and the diagnostic study the World Bank
and the FEACC have been conducting in various sectors, like health,
education, mining, justice system and telecom, among others.. He expressed belief that
the workshop would give opportunity to share experience and perspective
as well as get deeper insights. He recalled a
continental meeting co-organized
by the World Bank Group’s Integrity Vice Presidency and the Africa
Region Vice Presidency in The Commissioner said
the FEACC was desirous in this regard to closely work with the ADB and
emphasized the need to explore ways of strengthening cooperation between
the two sides. |
|
Court
sentences, fines corrupt offenders The Court found Similarly, In a related development, the Court found Genet Tadesse, Former employee of Kebele 07/14, was found guilty of embezzling 18,514.06 Birr. It, as a result, sentenced her to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined her 1,000 Birr. The Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission of Ethiopia (FEACC) filed the charges in 2008, it was learned. In a related development, the Federal High Court sentenced three corrupt offenders on November 16 and 17 to rigorous imprisonments ranging from 5-9 years and ordered them to pay from 1-15,000 Birr in fines. The Court found Similarly, In a related development, the Court found Genet Tadesse, Former employee of Kebele 07/14, was found guilty of embezzling 18,514.06 Birr. It, as a result, sentenced her to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined her 1,000 Birr. The Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission of Ethiopia (FEACC) filed the charges in 2008, it was learned. |
|
Court
Sentences, Fines Corruptors
The FEACC was hunting the
suspects on suspicion that they had evaded taxes. Then, the defendants
showed up and tried to bribe the investigator, who had been pursuing them,
with 150,000 Birr on the Commission's own premises, at which they were
caught red-handed on 27 March 2008. The arrest was made based
on the tip which the investigator provided on the suspects' premeditated
criminal acts that were intended to abort the on-going investigation and
pursuit, it was learned. Therefore, the Court,
before which the case was brought, sentenced The Commission re-affirmed that it would continue to keep a watchful eye on such acts, as with other corrupt practices, and to bring the perpetrators to justice. |
|
FEACC
provides office room, facilities to CoST-Ethiopia The Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission of Ethiopia (FEACC) has provided office room
and facilities to the National Secretariat of the Construction Sector
Transparency Initiative (CoST). In addition, the FEACC
has made available utilities, like water, power, and cleaning service.
The Commissioner of the
FEACC, H.E. Mr. Ali Sulaiman, who is also the national CoST Champion,
has been playing tremendous role in facilitating communication between
the national multi-stakeholder group executive committee and relevant
bodies as well as promoting the Initiative. The country office has
currently identified four procuring bodies on the basis of their budget
allocation and the Government’s top priority areas. The identified procuring
entities are the Ethiopian Roads Authority, the Ministry of Education,
the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Water Resources. CoST is an international
multi-stakeholder initiative designed to increase transparency and
accountability in the construction sector. It aims to enhance the
accountability of procuring bodies and construction companies for the
cost and quality of public-sector construction projects. CoST is being piloted
for over two year period. There are seven pilot countries in total
including |
|
Commission
Holds Annual Experience Sharing Forum The forum was intended to exchange information
about the activities of ethics liaison units established in government
offices and public enterprises. At the occasion best practices have been
shared and awareness has been raised among the officers and officials. The commission’s commissioner He noted that performance of ethics liaison units
has been improved and better activities have been accomplished in the
fiscal year. Besides the ethics liaison units, higher officials
in the government offices and enterprises have to take the activities of
fighting corruption and malpractices as their main duties and
responsibilities, he added. On the occasion, some 140 participants drawn from different government offices and public enterprises have discussed on the activities realized in fighting corruption and improprieties in the fiscal year .Some participants have also pointed out that good lesson has been obtained from the session . |
|
FEACC
Successful in The Commissioner of the
Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission of Ethiopia said the
commission has succeeded in making the anti-corruption drive a public
agenda. While holding discussion
with Mr. Skye S.Justice, Political/Economic Officer with the US Embassy
here on 12 November 2009, Commissioner Ali Sulaiman said the awareness
raising education the FEACC disseminating to the various cross-section
of the public via face-to-face education, electronic and print media as
well as its firm stand against corrupt individuals have helped the FEACC
to have the majority of the public on board in the fight against
corruption. He said the preventive
and curative actions taken by the FEACC in connection with illegal land
provision and acquisition in the Addis Ababa City Administration
particularly helped the FEACC to make its presence felt much better than
ever before. Apart from recovering a
great deal of land, the FEACC was able to bring scores of perpetrators
before justice in connection with illicit land grabbing in the
metropolis, the Commissioner said. The annual corruption
perception index issued by the Transparency International(TI)
undeservedly rates Ethiopia as highly corrupt country, Ali said, adding
that the perception index, by no means, represents the objective reality
on the ground. He said the identity and
motives of organizations or individuals who feed the information to the
TI and poor data handling and documentation on the part of On the occasion the Commissioner gave briefings from the things that necessitated the establishment of the FEACC to the approaches and challenges it has in preventing and combating corruption. |
|
Former
Judge Gets Seven Years Behind Bars For Charges of Bribery The Federal Supreme
Court on 9 November 2009 sentenced Girma Teku, former judge of the
municipal court of the Addis Ababa City Administration, to seven years
of rigorous imprisonment and fined him 1000 birr, overturning the
verdict of the Federal High Court, which acquitted the offender earlier. The Federal Supreme
Court handed down the verdict after the Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) appealed against the ruling of the
High Court. The charges pressed
against the convict read that while working as president of the 1st
Instance of municipal court, the offender in July 2007 asked, through a
third party, an individual that had a pending civil case to give him
50,000 birr in bribes in order to give verdict in favor of the
individual. Furthermore, the culprit
in October 2007 asked another individual 5,000 birr and finally took
2,300 birr in bribes so as to expedite decision in connection with a
dispute between the individual and the former Agency for the
Administration of Government Houses over overdue house rent. Thus after looking into the appeal file the Supreme Court rendering the ruling as the offender could not refute the charges brought against him. |
|
Individuals
get up to ten years prison term for concealing documents According to the charges
pressed against them by the FEACC, After looking into the charges, the Court gave the first defendant ten years rigorous imprisonment in absentia whereas it gave the second defendant three years imprisonment and a fine of 500 birr. |
|
Workshop in Germany showcases FEACC’s experience ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-A workshop organized by the University of Passau in Germany from 10 October to 17 October, 2009 showcased the preventive and curative measures the FEACC has taken relating to land administration in the Addis Ababa City Administration. Director of the FEACC’S Prevention Department, Ato Aklilu Mulugeta, on the occasion elaborated on the preventive and curative steps taken in connection with land administration in the city. He also explained the challenges the FEACC faced in the course of actions as well as the approaches it adopted to overcoming the challenges. Illicit land grabbing, which was once prevalent in the city, was reined in, thanks to synchronized efforts of the FEACC, the city administration and the public at large. In fact, FEACC’s pre-emptive and curative actions with regard to illegal land provision and acquisition earned it appreciation by many. Conducted under the theme “The Economics of Corruption”, the workshop discussed methods of corruption diagnostics, prevention and reform, incorporating political economy theories and empirical research. The workshop brought together some 100, scholars, academics and postgraduate students. |
|
Joint forum holds 1st regular meeting ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Joint Consultation and Cooperation Forum formed between the FEACC and professional associations held its 1st regular meeting here at the Imperial Hotel on 3 November 2009. On the occasion the Forum approved the 2002 E.C. draft plan after thoroughly discussing it. The plan incorporated activities, such as the offering of ethics and anti-corruption training for members of professional associations, assigning a body responsible for ensuring that each member of professional associations conducts himself/herself in keeping with what his/her professional demands. Furthermore, professional associations would prepare and implement code of ethics as well as share experience. Opening the meeting Commissioner of the FEACC, H.E. Ato Ali Sulaiman, accentuated that professional associations bear the responsibility of expanding ethics education and fighting corruption alongside the FEACC. The associations are not expected to implement simply what the FEACC dictates, they are also expected to rectify when the FEACC pursues wrong directions, he added. The Commissioner said all professionals shoulder moral and professional obligations to contribute due share to the welfare and growth of their country and people. |
|
Higher learning institutions urged to give heed to cultivation of ethical students ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)- Deputy Commissioner of the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC), H.E. Ato Addisu Mengistu, urged higher learning institutions to pay as equal attention to cultivation of ethical students as they pay to cultivation of knowledgeable and skilled students. Opening a two-day workshop held at Hawasa University on 24 October 2009 under the theme, “Let Us Fight Impropriety to Enhance Good Governance” he said unless students are equipped both with ethical values and academic knowledge, they, when placed in a job, are very likely to go against the existing civil service direction, which states civil servants are there to serve public interest, not their own interest. Thus higher learning institutions need to ensure that their students are not only knowledgeable and skilled but also well behaved, Addisu said. On the other hand, higher learning institutions should keep a wary eye on their institutions to prevent corruption, the D/Commissioner said, adding that if a higher learning institution is corrupt, it will send a wrong message to the youths and the new generation. President of the Hawasa University, Dr. Admasu Tsegaye, on his part urged the academic and administrative staff to remain vigilant to ensure that the huge resource the University mobilizes go to the anticipated purpose. On the occasion D/Commissioner Addisu Mengistu briefed the participants on the FEACC achievements and way forward. Similarly, Director of Ethics Education with the FEACC, Ato Berhanu Assefa, presented a paper that deals with ethical problems and corruption in the education sector, solutions as well as role of higher learning institutions in the fight against corruption. Co-organized by the Hawasa University and the FEACC, the workshop brought together some 120 academic and administrative staff of the university. The Hawasa University, which has recently begun implementing the Business Process Reengineering, has currently enrolled 22,000 students altogether. |
|
Forum approves plan ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Joint Cooperation and Consultation Forum formed between the FEACC and Commerce and Sectoral Associations approved action plan in its first regular meeting held at the Imperial Hotel on 30 October 2009. The plan incorporates, inter alia, the provision of ethics and anti-corruption education to Forum members, preparation of code of ethics, exchange of experience with counterparts. Opening the regular meeting Deputy Commissioner of the FEACC, H.E. Ato Addisu Mengistu, applauded the active participation of members of the Forum in the preparation of establishment statute and draft action plan. He also commended members of the Forum for actively taking part in various relevant meetings with a sense of responsibility. The Joint Forum was established in February 2009 with the aim of contributing share in the efforts being deployed to cultivate a society that detests corruption. |
|
Forum discusses action plan, coalition charter ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Joint Cooperation and Consultation Forum established between the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) and media establishments and associations held its first regular meeting on 28 October 2009. The Forum on the occasion discussed its 2009/2010 plan and approved it after making some modification. The Forum also deliberated on the charter establishing the National Anti-Corruption Coalition. Furthermore, various committees responsible for quality of ethics and anti-corruption training, monitoring and evaluation of conduct of Forum members as well as designing of code of ethics were set up. Speaking on the occasion Director of Ethics Education with the FEACC, Ato Berhanu Assefa, said that media establishments and associations are expected to play a colossal role in fighting corruption and promoting work ethics in the country. He said the FEACC has been closely working with federal ministries, regional states, the media and the private sector, among others with a view to accelerating the fight against corruption. The fight against corruption demands demonstrated commitments of all stakeholders, including government offices, civic organizations and the media, the director underscored. Team Leader of Ethics Infrastructures Coordination Department with the FEACC, Ato Abebe Hurisa, said on his part that media establishments and associations need to have a sound understanding and knowledge about ethical values and principles if they are to fight corruption successfully. He noted that they are duty bound to ensure transparency and accountability while discharging duties and responsibilities. Formed in October 2008 with the aim of supporting the anti-corruption drive spearheaded by the FEACC, the Forum has a membership of 26. |
|
FEACC, Sudanese Civil Service Commission hold discussion ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) and the National Civil Service Commission of the Sudan on 28 October 2009 held discussion on issues of mutual interest. During the occasion the Commissioner of the FEACC, H.E. Ato Ali Sulaiman, briefed the Sudanese delegation on the FEACC organizational structure, achievements, challenges and way forward. Deputy Commissioner of the Sudanese Civil Service Commission, Professor Ahmed Ibrahim Abusin, on his part, hailed the political will the Ethiopian Government demonstrating to the fight against corruption Professor Abusin, who is also head of the Sudanese delegation, was impressed by the independence of the FEACC. The delegation also applauded the Ethiopian Government for ratifying the UN Convention Against Corruption and the AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption. Members of the FEACC management responded to various questions raised by the Sudanese delegation. Similarly, Commissioner Ali held talks with the delegation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) here on 22 October 2009. Commissioner Ali on the occasion gave briefings on the overall activities and challenges of the FEACC. He also told the delegation the areas where the FEACC seeks technical assistance from the UNODC. The delegation commended the effort being deployed to get ratified the draft bills providing for the Registration and Declaration of Assets and Financial Interests as well as the draft bill of Whistleblowers and Witnesses Protection Act. |
Commission to Open Branch officeThe Federal Ethics and Anticorruption Commission (FEACC) will soon open branch office in the Dere Dawa City Administration in the current Budget year.
According to Addisu
Mengistu, Deputy Commissioner of FEACC, the Commission is currently
equipping the branch office with manpower and facilities that are
necessary to start its operation. A training programme will be conducted for officials of the city administration and other concerned bodies with the aim of facilitating the smooth start of its operation as well as devising ways of working closely with the public, according to Ato Addisu. The inaugural ceremony of the branch office will be held in the near future in the presence of relevant officials, it was learned. |
FEACC Observes National Flag DayThe staffers of the Federal Ethics and Anticorruption Commission observed the National Flag Day for the second time on 5 October 2009. The staffers of the Commission honored the day on the premises of the commission by hoisting the national flag. The National Flag Day is unique in that it symbolizes the equality of nations, nationalities as well as religions. The House of Federation adopted a resolution to mark the National Flag Day on Monday of the second week of the new Ethiopian year. |
|
FEACC organizes annual experience sharing forum for ethics, civics clubs FEACC (ADDIS ABABA)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission organized an annual experience sharing forum for ethics and civics clubs here at the Imperial Hotel from 1 October to 2 October 2009. Opening the forum, representative of the FEACC, Ato Abebe Zewde, said schools form the bedrock in the effort geared towards creating a society that does not condone corruption. The role of ethics and civics club in this regard is tremendous, he added. Ethics and civics clubs established across the nation presented their annual performance report and shared best experience with their counterparts. On the occasion, members of the FEACC staff gave briefings on the objectives and activities of the FEACC as well as concept of corruption. |
|
FEACC appoints directors FEACC (ADDIS ABABA)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission temporarily appointed directors to its various departments after refining the Business Process Reengineering (BPR), which it has been implementing for two and a half years now. Accordingly, Ato Berhanu Assefa, Ato Aklilu Mulugeta and Ato Hailu Berhe have been named director of Ethics Education, Corruption Prevention and Ethics Infrastructures directorates respectively. Similarly, Ato Berhanu Kifetew, Ato Genzeb Semaw and Ato Gebremedhin Gebremichael were appointed as director of Corruption Investigation and Prosecution, Change Management and Plan, Procurement and Finance directorates respectively. Ato Beyene Gashu was assigned as director of Human Resource Management and Ato Terefe Wordofa was appointed as Deputy Director of Corruption Investigation and Prosecution Directorate. Preparation is in the pipeline to assign other staff members in line with the BPR principles. |
|
Commission offers training to staff Addis Ababa (FEACC) - The Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEACC) has been offering training to half of its staff since 18 September 2009 on government policies and strategies. The trainers who were drawn from various government ministries and departments have been offering the training at the Commission’s Conference Hall for the last nine days on the Countries policies and strategies for democratization processes, foreign policy, national security, industrialization and urbanization, agriculture and rural development, education, and ethics. Opening the training programme, Commissioner of the FEACC, H.E Mr. Ali Sulaiman, said that the training would enable the trainees to effectively discharge their responsibilities in accordance with government policies and strategies and in conformity with the fundamental guidelines established by the BPR. The second round of the training programme in which the other half of the Commission’s staff will be in attendance will start sooner than later. |
|
Commission, religious institutions establish joint forum The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) and various religious institutions established a joint forum at a workshop held here on 3 September 2009. Opening the founding workshop, FEACC Deputy Commissioner, Addisu Mengistu, said that the joint forum is a vital instrument to formulate various new techniques and strategies to spread ethics and anti-corruption education among their followers. “The forum is believed to assist the Commission by actively participating in the national anti-corruption struggle, “he added. Deputy Commissioner Addisu further noted that the establishment of the forum is a step forward in the collaboration between the FEACC and religious institutions. Members of the forum are expected to build their implementation capacity, support each other and share experience to identify obstacles and recommend ways and means to address the problems, he said. Representatives of religious institutions also reaffirmed their readiness to back the country’s anti-corruption effort by coordinating and educating their followers, especially the youth. Participants of the workshop discussed and enriched the draft manual of the forum and also elected the Ethiopian Catholic Church as Deputy Chair. The FEACC has become the Chair of the forum. The participants of the workshop were drawn from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Ethiopian Catholic Church, the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane-Yesus and the Ethiopian Evangelical Churches Union |
|
FEACC, NJUE offer second round training to journalists The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, in collaboration with the National Journalists Union of Ethiopia (NJUE) provided a second round training to journalists drawn from state media and the private press in Adama town from 29 August to 30 August 2009. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner of the FEACC, H.E. Ato Addisu Mengistu, said the anti-corruption drive would not bring about the desired results without the active involvement of journalists. The FEACC, mindful of the role of journalists in preventing and combating corruption, has been closely working with the media, Addisu said. One such illustration is the joint forum established between the FEACC and the media, the Deputy Commissioner added. Addisu said that the FEACC had earlier provided awareness raising training to journalists drawn from the Amhara, Tigray and Somali Regional States as well as Walta Information Center. The concept of investigative journalism, role of journalists in preventing corruption and disseminating ethical values and image building were some of the topics discussed. The FEACC provided support in terms of finance and expertise to make the training possible. Some 30 journalists drawn from the state media and the private press participated in the training. |
|
FEACC to begin placement of staff FEACC (ADDIS ABABA)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) will soon begin placement of staff as work on refining the Business Process Reengineering, which has been under implementation for over two years now, is nearing completion. A draft guideline on placement and complaint handling was tabled for the staff on 25 August 2009. After deliberation on placement criteria and other relevant procedures, minor modification was made to the draft guideline. |
|
FEACC registers remarkable achievements in previous budget year FEACC (ADDIS ABABA)-The FEACC has realized most targets it set to execute in the 2001 Ethiopian budget year. Work on refining the Business Process Reengineering (BPR), which the FEACC has been implementing for over two years now, was nearing completion. The FEACC performed wide-ranging activities within its domains, including public education, corruption prevention, corruption investigation and prosecution. As far as public education is concerned, it offered Training of Trainers (TOT) to 637 trainees on the concept of corruption and ethics, corruption prevention strategies as well as anti-corruption provisions. The FEACC maintained an active interaction with the media. Various programs and activities of the FEACC were well profiled in the media. It produced and distributed locally and internationally various publications, like magazines, newsletters, brochures and posters. In a bid to plug loopholes susceptible to corruption, the FEACC launched system study on 39 activities, of which draft reports on 29 activities have been developed already while final reports on 21 activities have been prepared and forwarded to subject offices. During the period under review, it also conducted monitoring on the implementation of its recommendations pertaining 22 activities and forwarded the assessment report to the respective offices. The FEACC received 2286 tips-off, out of which 1212 were found to fall under its jurisdiction. Some 311 files were investigated, out of which 177 files were forwarded to the prosecution department. As to restraining of property, the FEACC restrained 348,970 square meters of land in the Addis Ababa City Administration and the Oromia Regional State. The estimated value of 259,005 square meters of land was reckoned at 596,449,718 birr. Estimated value of the remaining plots was being calculated. In addition, the FEACC restrained 14 vehicles, 20 residential houses, one bricks factory and froze 413,331 birr deposited in bank. A share worth 173,000 birr was also put to the same effect. In the period, the court ruled on 45 files, of which 39 files were ruled in favor of the FEACC, putting its conviction rate at 86.7 percent |
|
Code enforcers, ethics officers receive anti-corruption training Addis Ababa (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEACC) offered ethics and anti-corruption education for trainees drawn from the Code Enforcement Department of the Addis Ababa City Administration and the various Ethics Liaison Units of public offices and enterprises from 24-28 and 24-27 August 2009 respectively at the Imperial Hotel. The purpose of the training was to equip the code enforcement people and the newly-assigned ethics officers with the required skills in fighting and preventing corruption in their respective offices and departments. Anti-corruption laws, the manifestations and causes of corruption and the very concepts of ethics and corruption were high on the list of the training programmes, it was learned. The training offered for ethics officers had also focused on receiving and handling of complaints, examining working procedures that are prone to corruption and preparation of work plans and reports. Some 115 trainees were in attendance of the two training programmes. |
|
FEACC to open branch office in Dire Dawa FEACC (ADDIS ABABA)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) will open a branch office in Dire Dawa City Administration in the current Ethiopian budget year. As stipulated in the Establishment Proclamation, the FEACC can open branch office in regional states if deemed necessary. Deputy Commissioner of the FEACC, H.E. Ato Addisu Mengistu, said the opening of the branch would bring to an end the constant travel of FEACC staff members to the Dire Dawa City Administration to carry out the major duties of the FEACC, like awareness creation, corruption prevention, investigation and prosecution. The opening of the branch would also pave the way to closely work with the public in order to step up the anti-corruption drive in the City Administration, Addisu added. He said man power and budget requirements of the branch office would be met by the FEACC while office and office facilities would be made available by the City Administration. The branch office is due to go operational as of 11 September 2009. |
|
National Anti-Corruption Coalition Formed A National Anti-Corruption Coalition that aims to intensify the anti-corruption drive in the country was officially formed at the conclusion of a two-day founding conference held here in the capital from 2 July to 3 July 2009. Opening the founding conference, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Ato Girma Woldegiorgis said forming a national anti-corruption coalition to fight corruption proved effective in various countries. He underscored such effort would only be successful by ensuring the participation of all segments of the society. The President pledged the government’s unreserved support to help the Coalition meet its goals and objectives. Having discussed and made some amendments on the draft charter providing for the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Coalition, the participants elected a 13-member Executive Committee. During the occasion, two papers entitled “Best Practices of Anti-Corruption Struggle” and “The Need for National Anti-Corruption Coalition” were presented and discussed. The Coalition members also adopted a six-point resolution. In the resolution, they expressed commitment to enhance public participation in the fight against corruption. In his closing remarks, Commissioner of the FEACC, H.E. Ato Ali Sulaiman, reaffirmed the FEACC’s readiness to closely work with the Coalition. He also called on all stakeholders and the public at large to rally behind the Coalition. Synopsis of the Coalition The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the vanguard anti-corruption institution in the country, has been harnessing the efforts of organizations active in the fight against corruption. One of such instances is the series of joint forums formed between the FEACC and regional anti-corruption institutions, the media, civic associations, professional associations, chamber of commerce and sectoral associations and law enforcement agencies. It is the conviction of the FEACC that such bilateral forums be elevated to the next level with one national vision in addressing corruption. This has called for the formation of a National Anti-Corruption Coalition. Formed in the presence of close to 300 stakeholders and partners, the Coalition comprised government departments, civil society organizations, the private sector and opposition political parties. The civil society organizations have taken the lion share of representation (48%) in the Coalition. The private sector also constituted a significant representation in the Coalition. The civil society organizations, the private sector and opposition political parties as a whole constituted 68.5 percent of the total number of seats in the Coalition. This is a clear illustration that these groups have influential roles to play in the overall activities of the Coalition. As provided in the Establishment Proclamation, the FEACC is duty-bound to lead and coordinate all anti-corruption efforts exerted by members of the Coalition. It, therefore, serves as a permanent secretariat of the Coalition. The Coalition is expected to: ü Enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the national anti-corruption struggle. ü Strengthen the institutionalization, systematization and accommodativeness of the national anti-corruption movement. ü Enhance the participation of members of the Coalition in the national struggle against corruption. ü Pave the way for putting in place a national anti-corruption strategy that accommodates, governs and guides all anti-corruption efforts by all stakeholders. ü Encourage regional governments to follow suit and facilitate the establishment of similar coalitions in their respective states. |
|
Speaker urges journalists to play vital role in uncovering corruption offenses FEACC(ADDIS ABABA);-Speaker of the House of People’s Representatives, H.E.Ambassador Teshome Toga, has urged journalists to play key role in exposing corruption offenses and other administrative irregularities. Opening a two-day training programe organized for journalists on investigative journalism on 17 July 2009 , the Speaker said journalists should play a crucial role in combating the ills of the society, like corruption, which is posing serious threats to development and democratization worldwide. The Speaker also said journalists have a professional responsibility to motivate and encourage the public to actively involve in development endeavors. The Commissioner of the FEACC, H.E. Ato Ali Sulaiman, on his part commended the effort so far exerted by journalists to expose corruption offenses. He, however, added that a lot is expected from the media in general to support the anti-corruption drive spearheaded by the FEACC. The training was aimed at rallying journalists behind the FEACC in order to help the latter achieve its goals and objectives. Concept of corruption and the role of journalists in fighting corruption were among the major topics discussed during the training. Co-Organized by the National Journalists Union of Ethiopia and the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the training brought together some 30 journalists drawn from the state-owned media outlets and the private press. |
|
EX-legal experts of CBE convicted FEACC (ADDIS ABABA)-The 1st Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court on 11 June 2009 sentenced two ex-legal experts of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) to eight years of rigorous imprisonment each and fined them each 10,000 birr while their accomplice got eight years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 30,000 birr. The Court handed down the verdict on Habtamu Petros Hailegiorgis, ex legal expert of the CBE (1st defendant), Yared Dechasa Mulatu, who was also a legal expert at CBE (2nd defendant) and Muhaba Sherif Siraj(3rd defendant). The ex-legal experts of the CBE connived with the third defendant to help the latter illicitly withdraw 664,541 birr from 1,257,007 birr frozen by court order in connection with disputes among heirs of the late Degife Gebremeskel Guzimu, who deposited the sum at the CBE. While they had the full knowledge that the court had frozen the sum in a letter written to the CBE on 27 June 2007, the two legal experts of CBE with the intention of illegally helping the third defendant gain unduly and causing loss against the CBE, ordered the CBE to pay for the third defendant a sum of 644,541 birr from the 1,257,007 birr deposited by the late Degife. The third defendant, on his part, while knowing that the he was not entitled to the sum of money, used a fake name and counterfeit court order requesting the CBE to pay the third defendant 661,541 birr from the already frozen sum of money. As the defendants failed to refute the charges brought against them, the Court gave the aforementioned verdict. |
|
Man gets over two years behind bars for forgery FEACC (ADDIS ABABA)-A man found guilty of forging important documents was sentenced to two and half years of imprisonment by the 1st Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court on 29 May 2009. The convict by the name Tsegaye Merach with the intention of getting undue advantage for himself and other forged stamps of various government offices, the charge filed against the offender reads. The convict, for instance, produced a forged stamp of a certain kebele administration in Kolfe-Keraniyo sub-city of the metropolis. He also prepared a forged certificate of General Winget College here in the capital. |
|
Corruptor gets six years behind bars for abuse of power, maladministration FEACC (ADDIS ABABA)-The 1st Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court on 5 June 2009 gave Solomon Hailu Welle, former Legal Service Head of Yeka Sub-City Administration of the metropolis, six years of rigorous imprisonment and 5,000 birr in fines for abuse of power and maladministration. The charges filed against him by the FEACC relates the convict, in direct contravention of the Addis Ababa City’s land administration regulations, issued title deed for certain individuals on 75,000 square meters of land (worth at the current lease price 249,075,000 birr) with the full knowledge that the plot belongs to the government. Moreover, the convict gave recognition to an illegal residential house cooperative named “Bure Aertu No. 1 Residential House Cooperative”, which approached the sub-city for issuance of title deed on 35,000 square meters of plot. Still more, the convict while working as Acting Head of the Sub-City’s Infrastructure and Housing Affairs Office gave temporary construction license for a certain PLC to construct shops and warehouse on highway side when it was not the jurisdiction of sub-city. |
|
Former EEPCo cashier convicted for misappropriating funds FEACC (ADDIS ABABA)-Mekonnon Edris Hassan,former cashier of Asela District with the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo), on 2 June 2009 was sentenced to four and half years of rigorous imprisonment and fined 10,000 birr for misappropriating public funds. According to charges pressed against him by the FEACC, the convict deposited in Asela branch of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, only 39,263 birr from 369,266 birr collected in electricity bills and other revenues, reducing close to 330,000 birr. Furthermore, while working in the same capacity, the convict, with the intention of gaining undue advantage, concealed 2,633 birr from unspecified amount of money sent to the District for operational activities. The court gave the above mentioned verdict as the accused failed to refute the evidence brought against him. |
|
Corruptors receive jail terms, fines FEACC (ADDIS ABABA)-The Federal High Court on 5 June 2009 sentenced two individuals to three years rigorous imprisonment each and fined each 2,000 birr for trying to leave the country illegally with the help of two former employees of the Ethiopian Air Lines (EAL). The convicts, namely Samson Arefeayne Belay and Negsti Haregewine Tasew were caught red-handed while trying to fly to London with fake passports by conspiring with two EAL employees, who have already been convicted. The Court that was handling the case had earlier handed down verdict on the two EAL employees and acquitted the-now-convicted passengers. The prosecutor of the FEACC, however, lodged an appeal with the Federal Supreme Court against the verdict handed down on those acquitted. Having examined the appeal, the Supreme Court confirmed those acquitted were actually involved in the corruption offense the two EAL employees were found guilty of. The Supreme Court, therefore, overturned the decision passed on the two passengers and decided they must defend themselves. However, the accused could not appear before the court to defend themselves despite repeated calls made and they were unavailable in their addresses. By considering the Supreme Court’s decision and taking for granted the failure of the accused to appear before court as unwillingness on their part to defend themselves, the Court handed down the above mentioned verdict. |
|
Forum calls on courts to play vital role in anti-corruption drive ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Joint Consultation Forum of the National Anti-Corruption Authorities and Relevant Bodies has called on courts to play vital role in the fight against corruption. The call was made at the conclusion of the 6th Joint Consultation Forum of the National Anti-Corruption Authorities and Relevant Bodies convened in Jimma town of the Oromia Regional Government from 21-23 May 2009. The participants of the Forum underscored the significance of active participation of courts in the crusade against corruption. It was indicated that the courts were lenient with corruptors over the past years though signs of improvement have been witnessed lately. Speaking on the occasion the Commissioner of the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, H.E. Ato Ali Sulaiman said properties and cash worth 62, 765, 900 birr were restrained through court order. He, however, said courts are in some cases imposing prison terms and fines that do not correspond to the damages corruptors caused. The Commissioner thus urged the courts to contribute their share in the efforts being exerted to prevent and combat corruption. Commissioner of the Oromia Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Foziya Amin, on her part said the Regional State has been expanding public education by focusing on women and youths. She said preparation was made to open branch offices in Jimma, Adama, Shashemene and Chiro towns. The Gambella Regional Government was selected to host the next Joint Consultation Forum of the National Anti-Corruption Authorities and Relevant Bodies. |
|
Commission provides TOT for service rendering offices FEACC (ADDIS ABABA)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission gave a five-day Training of Trainers (TOT) for employees drawn from various service rendering government offices and enterprises beginning 18 May 2009. Concepts of corruption and ethics as well as anti-corruption provisions were among the topics treated during the training. Some 45 civil servants drawn from various government offices, including the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation, the Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation, the Ethiopian Postal Service, Anbesa City Bus Enterprise and Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital took part in the TOT. The trainees are expected to give ethics and anti-corruption awareness raising education for employees of their respective offices. |
|
CoST national executive committee launches operation The national executive committee of the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST) has officially launched its work. The committee, which is composed of ten members drawn from the government, construction sector and the civil society organization, has sent workplan and budget requirement approved by the Multi Stakeholder Group to the International CoST Secretariat and received feedback. Work on developing specification to purchase office facilities is well underway, according to Bekure Ketema, Secretary of the national executive committee of CoST. Similarly, a bank account has already been opened and Terms of Reference for the executive committee and employees was developed. On the other hand, H.E. Ato Ali Sulaiman, who is CoST champion, will be heading to Dare Selam, Tanzania leading a delegation in order to pay a working visit from May 27-30, 2009. Tanzania is one of the pilot countries of CoST. Other CoST pilot countries include Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia, UK, Philippines and Vietnam. |
|
FEACC, ECCSA approve action plan Following the formation of a joint consultation forum between the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) and the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA) on 25 February 2009, the two sides approved action plan on 30 April 2009. The participants endorsed the action plan after making an in-depth discussion on the draft document developed by the FEACC. As stipulated in the action plan, the two sides would jointly provide a series of trainings on the concept of ethics and corruption to members of CCSA. Conducting a joint study on ethics and corruption, facilitating platform for exchange of experience among member associations and incorporating activities related to ethics and anti-corruption in the annual plan of member associations based objective reality of the associations are among the activities outlined in the action plan. The action plan is expected to come into effect within a year. |
|
FEACC’s 9-month performance encouraging ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) accomplished most of the activities it set to execute over the past nine months of the Ethiopian budget year. According to its nine-month performance report, the Commission has already entered the implementation phase after finalizing the Business Process Reengineering (BPR) of its support processes. As far as public education is concerned, the FEACC offered training to 653 trainees on the concept of ethics and corruption, corruption prevention strategies as well as anti-corruption provisions. Furthermore, various publications treating the above topics were distributed to the target audience while television and radio spots were aired via the media. As to corruption prevention, the FEACC launched system study on 37 activities. Work on data collection, organization and analysis of 33 activities has been completed. Reports on 20 activities have been developed and forwarded to the subject offices, while draft reports have been developed on 10 activities. Similarly, the FEACC monitored the implementation of its recommendation in five public offices and public enterprises whose system study was conducted before the 2000 Ethiopian budget year. On the other hand, the FEACC has already launched monitoring on 38 activities whose system was examined beginning the 2000 Ethiopian budget year .Out of which, work on monitoring 17 activities has been concluded. As far as investigation of corruption offenses is concerned, the FEACC received 1795 tips-off from the public out of which 951 tips were found to fall under the FEACC’s jurisdiction. During the period under review, 252 files were investigated, out of which 151 files were forwarded to the Prosecution Department of the FEAC C. As to restraining of property, the FEACC, by Court order, restrained 348,970 square meters of land in the Addis Ababa City Administration and in the Oromiya Regional State. The estimated value of 249,879 square meters of land was reckoned at 578,055,665 birr. Estimated value of 99,081 square meters of land was being calculated. In addition, the FEACC restrained 12 vehicles, 20 residential houses and froze 386,001.76 birr deposited in a bank. A share worth 173,000 birr was also put to the same effect. With regards to prosecution, the FEACC charged suspects with corruption offenses in 85 new files. During the period under review, the Court ruled on 33 files, of which 28 files were ruled in favor of the FEACC. On the other hand, joint forums were formed between the FEACC and the media, professional associations, civic associations as well as Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations. The FEACC made everything in its capacity to table in parliament various draft bills, like code of conduct of civil servants and political appointees, the Registration and Declaration of Assets and Financial Interests, Whistleblowers and Witnesses Protection Act as well as Citizens Charter. As to budget spending, the FEACC spent 8,574,600 birr from the budget earmarked to it by the government. Furthermore, it utilized 6,374,427 birr from funds obtained from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). |
|
Commission offers training to regional investigators Addis Ababa (FEACC), 29 April 2009- The Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission has been offering training since 27 April 2009 to 14 corruption investigators drawn from the anti-corruption and police commissions of the Amhara, Harari, and Benshangul Gumuz regional states. The five-day training, which has still been underway, was envisaged to upgrade the capacity and skills of the trainees on criminal investigation, corruption investigation in particular, thereby helping them discharge their duties and responsibilities effectively and efficiently. The training focused on expounding the manifestations, causes, and definitions of corruption and elaborating on basic investigative skills, evidence collection and analysis, and handling of criminal records. |
|
Court rules on fate of exhibit ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal High Court has ruled for the return of 65,627 birr, which the FEACC seized as exhibit, to the Ministry of Defense. The FEACC collected the sum from National Defense former members, whom it indicted for breach of trust and forgery. The Court made the decision after the FEACC had requested the former to pass decision on the fate of the exhibit. It is to be recalled that the Court on 9 May 2008 gave seven former members of the Ministry of Defense jail terms ranging from 7-18 years. Among the convicts, Second Lieutenant Dereje Legdi, who was a treasurer at the Ministry, siphoned off 1,322,006 birr. Other convicts misappropriated a lot of money by preparing counterfeit financial documents.. |
|
FEACC gives TOT to construction companies ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) gave a five-day Training of Trainers (TOT) to state-owned and private construction companies beginning 30 March 2009. Concepts of corruption and ethics, anti-corruption provisions and corruption in the construction sector were among the topics dealt with. At the end of the training, the trainees are expected to acquire the necessary skills that would help them fight corruption in their respective institutions. They are also expected to train their colleagues on corruption prevention strategies. Some 41 participants drawn from various construction companies participated in the TOT. |
|
MSG approves workplan, budget ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-Multi Stakeholder Group (MSG) of the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST) approved workplan and budget for the pilot period (February 2009-October 2010) in its second meeting held on 26 March 2009. During the occasion, the MSG also elected executive committee members. Opening the meeting the Commissioner of the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, H.E. Ato Ali Sulaiman noted that ensuring transparency and accountability in the construction sector is beneficial to the government, the industry, the civil society organizations and the general public at large. The Commissioner, who is also CoST Champion, said by enhancing accountability and transparency of the various actors in construction projects CoST would improve the management of the projects, increase the quality of infrastructures, raise public confidence in government, foster investment and ensure environmental protection. Reduced levels of corruption and greater accountability mechanisms would help local companies get better chance of winning contracts, he said. CoST would create an enabling atmosphere for the civil society organizations to access information as well as get chances to participate in the governance of the construction sector, according to the Commissioner. Ali said greater transparency in the sector is of massive importance in ensuring that the materials to be used for construction purposes are environment friendly and would not pose threat to public health. The functions of the MSG are supporting the CoST champion, identifying capacity building activities to support CoST Ethiopia, identifying the projects to be selected for CoST analysis and drafting terms of reference, the qualification and mode of appointment of members of the Assurance Team, among others. Cost is a multi-stakeholder initiative designed to increase transparency and accountability in the construction sector. It is being piloted in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, UK, Philippines and Vietnam.. |
|
Former employees of Authority receive 3-5 years prison terms, fines ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal High Court recently sentenced four former employees at the Land Administration Authority of the Addis Ababa City Administration to five years rigorous imprisonment and fined them 5,000 birr each for abusing power while it gave another employee three years of rigorous imprisonment. The convicts are Tesfaye Biru, former manager of overdue projects, Kaleb Kibret, former head of plot and house administration department, Tilahun Girma, former deputy manager of land administration, Bekele Teklu, former head of ownership information department and Colonel Tefera Yimam, former architecture planner. According to the charges brought against them by the FEACC, an individual named Kassa Gebremariam, who had leased 28, 694 square meters of plot from the Ministry of Mines and Energy in 1984 E.C, refused to return the stated plot upon termination of the contract in 1986.Instead he grabbed additional plot of land and demanded that plan be issued for him for part of the plots. As a result, the convicts issued plan for 2000 square meters of plot and masterminded the leasing of the remaining plots in direct contravention of lease regulation and guideline. All in all, of the over 32,000 square meters of land Kassa acquired illicitly (it is worth over 15 million birr), Kassa sold out some while illegally undertook construction over the remaining plots. The Court, thus, found the convicts guilty of complicity in the crime. |
|
Former constable gets two years behind bars ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Dire Dawa City Administration High Court on 20 February 2009 sentenced former constable at the District 6 Police Station of the Administration to two years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him 500 birr. According to charges pressed against him by the FEACC, the convict, Constable Kefalegn Debebe, had concealed 100 birr from 1,100 stolen birr he was able to recover after a man, whose money was stolen sought his help. Furthermore, the convict demanded the victim to give him 50 birr in return for recovering his stolen money and received the same. After looking into the charges, the Court found the convict guilty of the two counts of charges and handed down the verdict mentioned above. |
|
Workshop discusses draft bills ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption (FEACC) organized a two-day workshop on draft bills providing for the Registration and Declaration of Assets and Financial Interests as well as Whistleblowers and Witnesses Protection Act beginning from 10 March 2009. The workshop aimed at enriching the draft bills, which are believed to back the anti-corruption drive in this country. Addressing the workshop Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, H.E. Ambassador Teshome Toga said the draft bills would be endorsed after having gone through in-depth reviews by the workshop participants and other stakeholders. If and when enforced, the bill providing for the Registration and Declaration of Assets and Financial Interests would serve as a legal instrument to compel appointees, elected citizens and civil servants to declare and get registered their assets and financial interests, the Speaker said. He said this would close in on loopholes that might lead to corruption and malpractices as concerns public offices and the responsibilities thereof on one side and private interests on the other. The Whistleblowers and Witnesses Protection draft bill would be made as comprehensive as possible through inputs and recommendations drawn on from the workshop participants and other stakeholders so as to give protection for whistleblowers and witnesses against reprisals, Ambassador Teshome said. The loss of resources to corruption as faced by the developing nations has been one of the causes impeding the implementation of pro-poor projects. FEACC Deputy Commissioner, H.E. Ato Addisu Mengistu, on his part said, a number of international legal instruments against corruption have been introduced and effected in view of the global nature of corruption and its impacts. Various countries have enforced assets registration and witness protection laws to date, he said. Though there may be variations in some contents of such bills from nation to nation, there has been recognition worldwide that such legal frameworks serve additional tools backing national efforts to clamp down on the scourge of corruption, Addisu noted. The bills now in the pipeline in Ethiopia have been designed to serve the same means as elsewhere, he indicated. |
|
FEACC senior management members confer with TI officials ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)_Senior management members of the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) conferred with Mrs. Hugguette Labelle, Board Chairperson of Transparency International (TI) and Ms. Rima Al-Azar, TI Regional Director for Africa and the Middle East on 5 March 2009. The TI officials, who are on working visit to assess the performance of TI Chapters in Eastern Africa, commended the FEACC on forging close partnership and collaboration with the national TI Chapter. Commissioner of the FEACC briefed the officials on the various activities the FEACC has accomplished since its establishment. During the discussion, FEACC management members said Corruption Perception Index, which is released by TI annually unfairly ranks Ethiopia among corrupt countries. TI officials on their part indicated that the data employed for developing corruption perception index are collected from the World Bank, Freedom House as well as 16 other international organizations. They said that it would be hard to consider the index as perfect, adding that preparations are in pipeline to make future rating as fair as possible. The two sides also exchanged views on how to enhance their relations and partnerships. |
|
Commissioner holds discussion with CoST international advisory group chairman ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Commissioner of the FEACC, H.E. Ato Ali Sulaiman held discussion with a delegation led by Mr. Christiaan J. Poortman, Chairman of the International Advisory Group of the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST) on 24 February 2009. The purpose of the delegation’s visit to Ethiopia, which has become a pilot country of CoST, was to raise the awareness of stakeholders on CoST as well as extend technical assistance in the preparation of work plan and budget requirements to implement the pilot phase. During the discussion, Commissioner Ali said the lion’s share of Ethiopia’s annual budget went to the Construction Sector, adding that CoST’s approach to corruption prevention in the construction sector through ensuring transparency was a wise tactic. He noted that shared stakeholder commitment to transparency and accountability, which was the fundamental principle that underpinned CoST, was an essential strategy to make the fight against corruption in the construction sector a success. He also assured the delegation Ethiopia’s strong commitment to the implementation of the Initiative. Mr. Poortman, on his part, said significant proportion of construction expenditures were actually wasted in the form of corruption. He expressed belief that as one of the seven pilot countries of CoST, Ethiopia would play an important role in tasting out as well as formulating the results of this pilot phase. The delegation also held separate and joint meetings with senior officials of the Ministry of Works and Urban Development, the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Public Procurement Agency as well as the Ethiopian Roads Authority, among others. Furthermore, it had discussion with Multi Stockholder Group (MSG) consisting of representatives from the Government, the private sector and the civil society organizations. The work plan and budget requirement are expected to be approved by the MSG and the International Secretariat before implementation. Ethiopia, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Vietnam, Philippines and UK are the seven pilot countries of CoST. Cost is supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and implemented in partnership with the World Bank, with an international secretariat providing on-going support to all pilot countries. |
|
Commission, Chamber of Commerce, Sectorial Associations form joint forum ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) and the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial Associations established a joint forum on 25 February 2009. The move is part of the Commission’s efforts to involve non-state actors in the fight against corruption. Deputy Commissioner of the FEACC, H.E.Ato Addisu Mengistu, on the occasion said the anti-corruption drive could not come to fruition unless all segments of the society joined forces. He said the roles of the Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial Associations in this regard was enormous as they were in charge of coordinating institutions the were involved in supplying the public basic commodities and services. Addisu urged Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial Associations to work in close collaboration and partnership with the Commission to disseminate ethics and anti-corruption education, expose corruption offenses and other relevant activities. As stipulated in the joint forum establishment statute, the FEACC and the Sectorial Associations would assume chairmanship and Deputy Chairmanship positions of the Forum respectively. It is to be recalled that the FEACC and federal government institutions engaged particularly in activities of ensuring the rule of law had already formed the joint forum. Several similar forums constituting the FEACC and civil society organizations, the FEACC and the media, the FEACC and professional associations as well as the FEACC and civic associations were formed. |
|
FEACC organizes annual experience-sharing forum ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) organized experience sharing forum of government officials and ethics liaison officers on 24 February 2009. The forum was aimed at exchanging information about the state of ethics liaison units established in public offices and public enterprises and raising awareness on regulation providing for the functioning of ethics liaison units. Speaking at the opening of the Forum, FEACC Deputy Commissioner, H.E. Ato Addisu Mengistu, said as part of mobilizing state actors in the prevention and control of corruption, the FEACC has been able to cause the establishment of numerous ethics liaison units in various public offices and public enterprises. He noted that a study conducted last year identified that the functions of ethics liaison units in some public offices and public enterprises had been given a subordinate place and lesser attention than other activities. As a result, failure to meet information needs of the FEACC and to immediately fill in positions left by ethics liaison officers are some of the pitfalls pinpointed in the study, according to Addisu. During the occasion, the participants discussed the dangers of corruption and the roles of heads of public offices and public enterprises in tackling corruption. Some five ethics liaison units that had exhibited outstanding performance in the previous budget year shared their experiences with the participants. The participants also made a general deliberation on strengths, weaknesses, challenges and way forward of ethics liaison units. More 159 heads of public offices and public enterprises as well as ethics liaison officers participated in the forum. |
|
FEACC participates in expert meeting assessing anti-corruption efforts across Africa ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-A delegation led by the Deputy Commissioner of the FEACC, H.E. Ato Addisu Mengistu took part in Ad-hoc Expert Meeting on “Assessing the Efficiency and Impact of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in Africa” held in Kigali, Rwanda from 16th to 17th February 2009. The meeting was aimed at assessing the efficiency and impact of national anti-corruption institutions in Africa and exploring ways of strengthening their capacity. During the occasion, the participants reviewed a study on “Assessing the Efficiency and Impact of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in Africa”. The study, prepared by the Governance and Public Administration Division (GPAD) with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), presents a thorough examination of the activities of national anti-corruption institutions across the continent. The study looks at the scale, dimension and nature of the problem of corruption in Africa. It also reviews international instruments and frameworks on anti-corruption, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, as well as other major international, regional and sub-regional instruments at combating corruption. The achievement made in the areas of investigation and prosecution of corruption offences is also highlighted in the study. The study also deals with problems encountered in the fight against corruption and suggests measures at solving them. Participants gave briefing on challenges their respective anti-corruption institutions faced in the process of performing their functions and outlined areas where they were confronted with capacity constraints. Furthermore, the participants dwelt on challenges they faced in an effort to domesticate provisions stipulated in international instruments, particularly in the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption. Organized by GPAD as part of its anti-corruption programme, the Expert Meeting brought together heads of national anti-corruption institutions, leading civil society actors, policy makers, sub-regional, regional and international institutions working on corruption in Africa, academics and the media. |
|
Corruptors receive jail terms, fines ADDIS ABABA (FEACC) - The Federal High Court on 30 January 2009 gave Tamirat Hundie Megersa, ex-officer of code enforcement at the Yeka Sub-city of the metropolis a year behind bars and a fine of 500 birr for bribery. The convict was caught red-handed while receiving 1,700 birr which he demanded by intimidating four residents of the sub-city he claimed to have held illegal plots. After looking into the charge, the Court found the convict guilty of receiving bribe. In a related development, ex-guards at the Road Transport Office of the Dire Dawa Administration were sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment each for stealing spare parts of a vehicle they were supposed to take care of. The Federal High Court on 9 February 2009 gave Melaku Gezahegn and Wube Mamo two years behind bars each as they failed to defend themselves against the charge Similarly, the Federal High Court on 22 February 2009 sentenced Sultan Redin Abegaz, former head of Addisu Gebeya branch with Commercial Nominees PLC, to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him 4,000 birr for misappropriating over 62,000 birr, which he was given to pay for pensioners. The Court handed down the verdict after the convict failed to refute the charge brought against him by the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC). |
|
FEACC gives training to regional investigators ADDIS ABABA(FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) organized a five-day training to 17 investigators drawn from five regional ethics and anti-corruption commissions beginning from 2 February 2009. Corruption offenses, basic corruption investigation strategies, information collection and analysis, interrogation and development of files were the major topics discussed during the training. The training was part of the various projects the FEACC has been implementing to build the capacity of regional anti-corruption commissions. |
|
FEACC tables six-month performance report ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) presented its six-month performance report to staff members on 30 January 2009. In an effort to fully implement the Business Process Reengineering (BPR), FEACC’s support processes have undergone the BPR over the past six months and entered implementation, according to the report. As part of public education, the FEACC gave trainings to 553 trainees on ethics and corruption concepts as well as anti-corruption provisions whereas hundreds and thousands copies of advocacy materials were distributed. In a bid to examine working practices and procedures of public offices and public enterprises information was gathered and analyzed on 16 activities of which draft reports were developed on 15 activities. The reports of 11 activities were dispatched to subject offices. Some seven activities whose examination launched the previous budget year were concluded in the period reported and reports of which were sent to the respective offices for implementation. Implementation of 15 activities was followed-up and reports were dispatched to the respective offices. As far as investigation of corruption offenses is concerned, 1238 tip-offs were lodged with the Commission during the period under review of which 665 fell under the Commission’s jurisdiction while 573 tip-offs were found to be out of the Commission’s jurisdiction. Some 225 files were taken up for investigation out of which the investigation of 121 files were concluded and thus forwarded to the prosecution department of the Commission. As to restraining of property, the Commission, by court order, restrained 328,381 square meters of land in the Addis Ababa City Administration and in the Oromiya Regional State. The estimated value of 237,937 square meters of land was reckoned 566,089,709 birr. Estimated value of 95,444 square meters of land was being reckoned. The Commission also restrained 12 vehicles, 20 residential houses and froze 386,001.76 birr deposited in a bank. A share worth 173,000 birr was also put to the same effect. The FEACC kept 280 suspects under constant surveillance and arrested 203 of them. With regards to prosecution, the FEACC charged suspects with corruption offenses in 68 new files. Some 23 files were closed as they did not merit prosecution and 11 files were partly closed. Some 126 files were referred back for further investigation and 18 files were forwarded to another prosecutor as they fell out of the Commission’s jurisdiction. A total of ten files were forwarded to other investigation bodies while 31 files were transferred to the next quarter of the budget. During the period under review, the Court ruled on 28 files of which 23 files were ruled in favor of the Commission, bringing its conviction rate to 82.14 percent. The Commission caused the establishment of Ethics Liaison Units in 16 public offices and public enterprises. As far as budget spending is concerned, the Commission spent about 70 percent of the 7,829,074.00 birr earmarked to it for the period under review. In addition, the Commission spent 5,562,500.00 birr from funds obtained from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). |
|
FEACC participates in anti-corruption meeting ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-Commissioner of the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC), H.E. Ato Ali Sulaiman took part in anti-corruption meeting held in Gaborone, Botswana from January 22-23, 2009. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss development fraud and corruption trends in Africa and globally, exchange experiences, share lessons learned about successful and not-so-successful strategies and forge stronger alliance to achieve transformative progress in fighting fraud and corruption across the continent. Ensuring that development funds are used for their intended purposes remains a continuing challenge both in Africa and elsewhere, according to the World Bank sources. The Bank Group, to this end, has established mechanisms to minimize fraud and corruption in its own activities and to respond swiftly and effectively when fraud or corruption occurs in Bank-financed operations. The Bank’s lending to the African continent is expected to reach 7 billion USD this year, the sources said. Held on the theme of “Advancing the Fight against Fraud and Corruption in Africa: Progress and Prospects, the meeting brought together pertinent officials from around 16 African countries including Ethiopia. The meeting was jointly hosted by the World Bank Group’s Integrity Vice Presidency and the Africa Region Vice Presidency. |
|
Court gives up to 7 years imprisonment ADDIS ABABA (FEACC) -The Dire Dawa criminal bench with the Federal High Court on 9 January 2009 sentenced five former employees of the Dire Dawa branch with the Wholesale Trading and Distribution Enterprise and one merchant to 1-7 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined them up to 20,000 birr. The convicts were found guilty of selling out over 1900 quintals of sugar that were supposed to be disbursed among residents of the Dire Dawa City Administration and other institutions. As a result, the court gave former manager of the branch, Samuel Dejenie, seven years rigorous imprisonment and fined him 20,000 birr while Bogale Mekonon, who was assigned to take delivery of sugar from Methara Sugar Factory and Eskiyas Taye, a merchant and an accomplice , each got six years behind bars and fined 10,000 birr. Azeb Alemayehu, ex-head of the branch’s warehouse, was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and was fined 2,000 birr. Amelework Yohannes, former cashier of the branch and Endris Abdulkadir, former treasurer of the branch were each given one year rigorous imprisonment and fined 1000 birr. |
|
Alleged Fugitive corruptor apprehended ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-Abebe Weldehana Guya, who had been hunted by the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) for committing serious fraud and corruption offenses, was arrested and extradited from Sudan on 14 January 2009. Abebe connived with Elias Sirur Mohammed (first defendant), who had worked at the Emergency Food Reserve Administration as a treasurer from 9 May 2001 to 10 February 2006, and misappropriated 5,794,175.Birr (five million seven hundred and ninety four thousand one hundred and seventy five Birr) of government money. The first defendant, who is still at large, withdrew the stated sum from the National Bank of Ethiopia and deposited it in Abebe’s bank account at the NIB International Bank by falsely claiming that grain was purchased from Abebe’s grain outlet. Actually, Abebe did not have any grain supply firm. Elias was able to transfer the sum by taking advantage of a delegation accorded to him by his office to withdraw money from the National Bank of Ethiopia. He put names and imitative signatures of heads of his office to write a cheque with the intention of gaining undue advantage for himself and for the second defendant. The FEACC had earlier called on the suspects via the media to submit themselves to it and also urged the public to tip the FEACC the whereabouts of the suspects. Despite the call, the suspects chose to remain in hideout. Abebe was, however, arrested after a tip-off provided by a Sudan-based Ethiopian, who watched the picture of the fugitive in a public announcement made by the FEACC. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Information and Intelligence Services, Interpol Main Department with the Federal Police as well as the Government of Sudan played a significant role in the manhunt and extradition. The arrest of the suspect is a clear illustration of the government’s unwavering commitment to fight corruption and the fact that corruptors could not get away with their evil acts. The FEACC would like to urge the general public to continue to tip the FEACC in the effort to apprehend the first defendant.. |
|
Ethiopia joins the construction sector transparency initiative (CoST) Addis Ababa (FEACC) December 22, 2008-The Commissioner of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission of Ethiopia (FEACC), H.E Mr. Ali Suleyman, announced on 22 December 2008 that Ethiopia would sign up to the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (Cost). According to the Commissioner, Ethiopia will join six other countries to implement a two-year pilot phase of the programme which is designed to reduce corruption and enhance the effectiveness of public sector infrastructure projects. Well-managed public sector infrastructure projects could make a major contribution to economic growth and poverty reduction, said the Commissioner, adding that new infrastructure and buildings of all kinds are vital to improving public services and peoples’ livelihoods. Billions of dollars of public money, often in the form of long-term loans, are being invested in infrastructure year on year globally, according to him. Mismanagement and corruption during planning, implementation and monitoring of construction projects could undermine the expected social and economic benefits of these investments, he explained. “Ethiopia is spending billions of birr on infrastructure development and that makes the need to protect the construction sector from corruption even more important and urgent,” he emphasized. According to him, the pilot phase of CoST will test a multi-stakeholder approach to increasing transparency and accountability in the delivery of the construction projects. It is expected that the release of key project information will lead to better quality infrastructure and better value for money, helping economic growth and reducing poverty. Ethiopia would be fully committed to implementing CoST’s programmes and ensuring transparency and accountability in the public construction sector in collaboration and partnership with the other member countries, the Commissioner underscored. The Commissioner said that Government, construction sector and civil society would work together to improve the efficiency, quality, and cost of public sector construction projects in Ethiopia and internationally. Cost is supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and implemented in partnership with the World Bank, with an international secretariat providing on-going support to all pilot countries. |
|
Commission arrests six individuals for allegedly involving in forgery ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) arrested six individuals for allegedly involving in preparing forged documents of over 50 governmental and private institutions. Commission Ethics Education and Public Relations Department Director, Ato Berhanu Assefa , said four employees of the Federal Transport Authority, a manger of a private printing enterprise and a broker are among the people who were arrested by the Commission. The Commission was able to hold various forged seals and documents of public and private institutions, religious institutions, associations, private companies and regional organizations. Various forged education documents, including doctorate degrees, business and driving licenses were seized from the offenders.. Employees of the Federal Transport Authority were involved in the offense by creating linkage with the printing press, the director said, adding that they were also allegedly involved in producing and concealing of fake documents. Investigations made by the Commission confirmed that various fake educational credentials, business and driving licenses, medical doctorate degrees and other counterfeit documents prepared here and abroad are used by several offenders. The director thus urged governmental and private institutions to verify documents well while dealing with them. He also called on the public to prevent the crime by reporting such acts to the Commission. |
|
FEACC organizes experience-sharing forum for ethics, civics clubs ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) organized a two-day experience-sharing forum for ethics and civics clubs beginning 29 December 2008. The forum was organized with the purpose of equipping the participants with the concepts of ethics and corruption. It was also aimed at assessing the performance of ethics and civics clubs established across the country as well as sharing best practices. The forum, which brought together pertinent bodies from all regional states as well as the Addis Ababa and the Dire Dawa City Administrations, discussed the annual plan of the 2001 E.C budget year and the activities being carried out by the FEACC to support the clubs. Ethics education heads, extracurricular experts, principals of primary schools and club leaders attended the forum. |
|
FEACC-sponsored cycle race wraps up ADDIS ABABA (FEACC) - A national cycle race sponsored by the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) in connection with the International Anti-Corruption Day was concluded on 21 December 2008. The cycle race, which was held from 18-21 December 2008 brought together 60 cyclists drawn from Tigray, Amhara, Oromiya, Hareri, South Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional States as well as the Dire Dawa City Administration. Trans Ethiopia Club emerged victorious in the race carried out under the motto “Let Us Fight Corruption Resolutely to Ensure Good Governance” while Guna Club and Mesebo Cement Club came second and third respectively. Individual cyclists representing the Dire Dawa City Administration, the South Nations, Nationalities and Peoples State as well as the Amhara Regional State grabbed fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively. Ethics Education and Public Relations Director with the FEACC, Ato Berhanu Assefa handed over trophy and medals for winners The FEACC spent 115,000 birr for the competition, it was learned. It is to be recalled that the FEACC financed a similar cycle race last year in connection with the International Anti-Corruption Day celebrated for the third time nationally and for the fourth time worldwide. |
|
FEACC provides training to ethics, civics teachers ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) offered a five-day training to 48 ethics and civics teachers drawn from 24 primary schools in Addis Ababa City Administration beginning 15 December 2008. The training was aimed at equipping the teachers with knowledge and skills in the areas of ethics, corruption prevention, corruption offenses and their corrosive effects so that they would teach in turn their students about ethical values and issues surrounding corruption. The FEACC will offer a similar training to 50 ethics and civics teachers selected from 25 other primary schools in the metropolis as of 22 December 2008. |
|
FEACC offers training to ethics liaison officers ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) offered six-day training to 80 ethics liaison officers drawn from public offices and public enterprises beginning from 15 December 2008. The training was mainly focused on review of working procedures and practices, code of Ethics Liaison Units, Establishment Proclamation of the FEACC and reporting. The trainees were expected to share the knowledge and skills they acquired during the training with their colleagues. |
|
Corrupt civil servant sent to jail ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Supreme Court of the Amhara Regional State on 9 December 2008 jailed Adane Andargie Yimam, former service head of Branch No. 1 with the Bahir Dar Electric Power District, for two and half years for forgery and abuse of power. According to the charge filed by the FEACC, the convict was found guilty as he deleted with fluid signature of Genet Assefa, his colleague, from an attendance list and alleged that she was off duty. Furthermore, while knowing that she was given a sick leave, the culprit accused her of wasting working hours. In so doing, the convict deducted seven days salary from Genet as a fine, the charge reads. As a result, the Court sentenced him to two and half years of prison term as he was unable to refute the charges pressed against him. |
|
Commission set to increasingly involve public in anti-corruption campaign ADDIS ABABA (ENA)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) said it has put in place a system enabling the public participate in the fight against corruption. Commissioner Ali Sulaiman said that the Commission has been striving to enable the public actively participate in the anti-corruption campaign. Commissioner Ali was speaking at a public gathering organized by the Commission on 13 December 2008 in connection with the International Anti-Corruption Day. He said the public have been contributing in the efforts to expose corruption. The aim of the gathering was to collect public opinion on activities being carried out by the Commission, find new ideas enabling to strengthen the fight against corruption and raise awareness of the public on activities of the Commission, among others. Director of Ethics Education and Public Relations Department with the Commission, Ato Berhanu Assefa on his part said the Commission has been working to enable the public become aware of the negative impacts of corruption. The Commission had received 3,000 tips during the past Ethiopian budget year. The public are expected to further provide tips to the Commission, he said. |
|
Commissioner stresses need to enhance good governance by fighting corruption ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-Commissioner of the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption, H.E Ato Ali Sulaiman underlined the need to intensify the anti-corruption effort in a bid to augment good governance. Giving a press conference on 5 December 2008 in connection with the International Anti-Corruption Day, Commissioner Ali said this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day celebration was unique in that it was being celebrated at a time when the government of Ethiopia was stepping up efforts to enhance good governance. He further said the fact that the Day was being celebrated in the wake of the ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption by the government also made the celebration unique. Since its establishment the FEACC has registered positive achievements in the fight against corruption, the Commissioner said. The FEACC was able to attract the public to rally behind its noble cause, the Commissioner said, adding that the FEACC has already made the anti-corruption drive a public agenda. Preparations are in full swing to conduct corruption survey for the second time, according to the Commissioner. A draft anti-corruption policy, which was believed to scale up the anti-corruption drive, was also being tabled, Ali added. A diagnostic study conducted in the construction sector in Ethiopia by the World Bank revealed there was a marked difference in perception between international and domestic stakeholders towards corruption, the Commissioner said. Despite the marked differences in perception, levels of corruption in Ethiopia are significantly lower both in frequency and scale, the Commissioner said quoting the study. |
|
Staff members celebrate International Anti-Corruption Day ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-Staff members of the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) on 9 December 2008 celebrated the International Anti-Corruption Day for the fourth time here in Ethiopia. The Day is being celebrated for the fifth time worldwide. Members of the FEACC staff marked the Day by holding a half-day meeting at which briefings were made on corruption survey due to be undertaken in 2009 with the financial support of the World Bank, and on draft proclamation providing for declaration of asset of public officials. The newly established Department for the Coordination of Ethics Infrastructures also highlighted the major activities it accomplished since its establishment. The Day is being celebrated in Ethiopia under the theme “Let Us Fight Corruption Resolutely to Ensure Good Governance”. During the occasion, a literary competition was held among staff members. Other befitting events, including a public gathering and cycle race will be held in connection with the International Anti-Corruption Day. By Resolution 58/4 of October 2003, the United Nations General Assembly designated December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day in honor of December 9 2003, the day on which the United Nations Convention Against Corruption was presented for signature. |
|
Commission, Civic Associations Establish Joint Forum The Federal Ethics and Anticorruption and 15 civic associations have established a joint cooperation and consultation forum in a meeting they held at Imperial Hotel on December 03, 2008. The joint forum was formed with a view to fighting corruption with the active participation of all members of civic associations. The establishment of the joint forum is also believed to help strengthen the role of individual members of civic associations in the fight against corruption by encouraging them to rally behind the noble cause of the FEACC. Deputy Commissioner of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission Ato Addissu Mengistu on the occasion said that the role of civic associations against corruption was pivotal. The world tends to be skeptical of the effectiveness of the anticorruption derive in the absence of the full participation of civic associations, according to the deputy Commissioner As civic associations are believed to be non-patricians and active at the grassroots level, their role in the fight against corruption is tremendous. He also said that in order for the civic associations win the trust of the public and provide the required service to those in need, they have to fight corruption as it is a major impediment that thwarts the efforts exerted to respect the rights and interests of its members. After hearing briefings made by the director of the Department for the Coordination of Ethics Infrastructure with the Commission and making amendments on some articles, the participants adopted the final draft regulation of the forum. According to the adopted regulation, the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission assumes the position of the chairmanship and the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions has been elected to take on the position of the vice chairmanship. |
|
FEACC offers TOT to leaders of school ethics clubs ADDIS ABABA(FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) offered a two-day Training Of Trainers (TOT) to leaders of school ethics clubs drawn from the nine regional states and two city administrations (Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa) beginning 24 November 2008. The training was aimed at identifying ways and means of strengthening the clubs in terms of membership and funding. During the training, the participants also discussed concepts of corruption, importance of ethics and anti-corruption education and roles of the clubs. Similar trainings will be provided to leaders of newly established ethics clubs, according to the organizers. |
|
Associations
urged to promote work ethics, fight corruption The Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) urged professional and civic
associations to play a colossal role in nation building efforts by
fighting corruption, promoting work ethics and good governance in the
country. Commissioner of the
FEACC, Ali Sulaiman, said professional associations and civil societies
are expected to contribute their share in the fight against corruption
and efforts to create a society that does not condone corruption by
promoting work ethics and anti-corruption education. He was speaking here at
the Addis Ababa Hilton at
the opening of a day-long
discussion forum organized by the FEACC with
a view to facilitating the establishment of
a joint forum with professional
associations thereby fight the scourge in a more synchronized
way. Commissioner Ali said
the incumbent government has been exerting utmost efforts to fight and
control this social malaise and consequently reduce its negative impact
on the overall socio-economic development efforts of the country. “It would be a futile
exercise and effort to design various development strategies and
policies without first fighting and controlling corruption as it
blemishes the creative mind of citizens and hence has a long-lasting
negative impact on the scio-economic and political progress of the
country,” he added. The Commissioner thus emphasized the need to join hands to give momentum to the anti-corruption drive. |
|
FEACC
arrests eight individuals for alleged involvement in telecom scam The Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission of Ethiopia has apprehended eight
individuals, including a foreigner, for
allegedly providing telecom services using devices that are banned from
entering the country. The suspects, who were
put under control during a hunt conducted from 19-21 November 2008,
allegedly made international calls without the recognition and
permission of the Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation (ETC).In so
doing, the suspects amassed considerable sum in foreign and local
currencies that could have otherwise collected by ETC. According to the
Investigation Department of the FEACC, four of the suspects are the
major actors in the unscrupulous act while the remaining four are in one
way or another linked with the crime. The fact that one of the
suspects is a foreigner indicates the scale of the crime and the danger
it poses to the national security. It is recalled that the FEAC C had
earlier arrested a South Korean in connection with similar telecom scam. The suspects, who
appeared in court on 21 November 2008, used to provide the services in
nine areas here in the capital using internet and computer training
centers as well as various offices as cover-up. Investigations are
underway to arrest other suspects who had a hand in the crime. The FEACC would like to urge the general public to cooperate with it in hunting down other suspects implicated in the crime and refrain from using such illegal service as it causes significant losses on the government and even worse endangers the national security. |
|
Addis Ababa-(FEACC)-The
First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court gave prison terms
ranging from one and half to 10 years plus cash fines to five
individuals convicted of illegal land provision here in the
metropolis. The
charge filed by the FEACC stated that the five convicts, all former
employees of the Gulelle sub-city administration, put their hands in
the illicit provision of over 27,000 hectares of land for individuals
who were not organized in accordance with the appropriate
condominium-organization regulations. The
land illegally provided to these individuals is valued at over 13.5
million Birr, calculated by the current lease price, the charge says. As
the convicts failed to defend themselves against the charge, the court
on November 5, 2008 gave the 1st convict, Kifle Eshete, who
was land development team leader and engineer with the sub-city, nine
years of rigorous imprisonment and 2,500 Birr fine. The
penalty he received includes the prison term he is already serving for
a previous conviction. Similarly,
Shiferaw Asgedom, the 2nd convict in the same file, got one
and half years of rigorous imprisonment. Shiferaw was previously
working as house and land contract execution head with the sub city. The
court also gave the 3rd convict, Tareke Nurgi, who was land
holding contract registration officer with the sub-city, 10 years of
rigorous imprisonment and 2,500 Birr in fine. The
penalty he received includes the punishment he is already serving for
another conviction. Similarly,
the 4th convict Desalegn Abate, who was surveyor at the sub
city, got eight years behind bars and 2000 Birr in fine. Mesganaw
Seid, who appeared before the court as 5th convict in the
same file, was also sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment. The 4th and 5th convicts were working as surveyor and associations’ promotion acting team leader with the Gullele sub city administration, respectively. |
|
FEACC
takes part in 3rd IAACA annual
conference Addis Ababa-FEACC- October 16, 2008- A
delegation led by Deputy Commissioner of the Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC), H.E. Ato Addisu Mengistu, attended
the 3rd Annual Conference and General Meeting of the
International Association of Anti- Corruption Authorities (IAACA) held
from October 3 to 6, 2008 in Kiev, Ukraine. The conference organized
under the theme “Criminalization and Law Enforcement measures” has
the objective of facilitating implementation of the United Nations
Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). Sideline workshops on
constituent elements of corruption offense in the public and private
sectors, evolution and challenges of criminalization, co-operative
relationship among anti-corruption agencies, international cooperation
in tracing and recovering assets obtained through corruption, as well
as protection of witnesses, experts and victims were held as part of
the grand conference, the Deputy Commissioner indicated. The FEACC had the chance
to present a paper that
focused on corruption and the private sector, the Deputy Commissioner
said and noted that taking part in the conference was a good
opportunity for the FEACC to further spearhead the anti-corruption
battle in the country. The conference has
provided the participants with a remarkable chance to discuss and draw
lessons from each others experience with a determined aim of combating
corruption more effectively, so as to assist the implementation of the
UNCAC, according to the Deputy Commissioner. More than 120 member
states of the UN have so far ratified the UNCAC, Addisu said and
underlined that the move was appreciated during the conference as a
reflection of the growing global commitment to combat corruption. Election of member
states that would fill vacant seats at the IAACA executive committee
was also held on the course of the conference. Participants of the
conference have also appreciated the establishment of an International
Anti-Corruption Academy in Austria, Vienna, with the joint efforts of
the Interpol and the United Nations Organization for Drug Control (UNODC),
the Deputy Commissioner said. Representatives of
anti-corruption authorities of 107 UN member states and 13
international organizations that converged at the conference have
discussed and adopted a 27 point draft resolution on the way forward. Established in 2006, the IAACA has the objective of providing a forum whereby national authorities are able both to strengthen their domestic anti-corruption systems and procedures, and also develop cross-border channels of communication and cross-border institutional relationships.--Ends-- |
|
Court gives offender one year behind bars for
soliciting kick-back Addis Ababa-(FEACC)-October 21-2008 The
First Criminal Bench of the Federal high Court gave one year prison term
for an individual caught red handed while receiving bribe. The
charge filed by the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC)
indicated that the convict, Haile’ab Ketema was charged for asking a
600 Birr kick-back while he was assigned as a supervisor engineer of the
expansion work at Birhan Guzo
primary school, which is under the kebelle 09/10 of the Yeka Sub-city of
the Addis Ababa city administration. The
convict solicited the stated sum of money from Yasin Kube, manager of
Shalom wood and metal workshop, which earlier signed a contract
agreement to supply and install doors, windows, veranda grill for the
expansion work, the charge says. Despite
approval of the payment request by concerned officials of the Sub-city
and his own confirmation that the work was done up to the standard, the
convict inquired the kick-back from manager of the workshop. Consequently,
the convict was seized red-handed while receiving 600 Birr from Yasin
Kube in October 2006. As he was unable to defend himself against the charge, the Court recently gave the offender one year behind bars. |
|
Court gives prison terms, cash fine to corruptors Addis Ababa- FEACC-October 21,
2008 The
First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court gave five years of
rigorous imprisonment for two individuals each as they were found guilty
of corruption offenses of various forms. The
charge filed by the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC)
says that Tesfaye Dires Gennaw, who was a mechanic at the power
maintenance section of the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation
(ETC), ripped-off some 74 barrels of engine oil from September 2001 to
November 2003. The
convict committed the fraud by preparing 18 fake request documents and
putting phony signatures on the documents to deceive workers and
officials of ETC’s storehouse, the charge reads. Meanwhile,
an individual who goes by the name Teshome Alemayehu Gurbachew was
charged by the FEACC for allegedly preparing fake tax payer files, forms
and receipts for 61 individuals while he was working as documentation
and data encoding expert at kebelle 07 of the Kolfe Keraniyo Sub-City in
Addis Ababa. According
to the charge, the convict prepared 61 counterfeit tax payer files by
deleting names and file numbers of original tax payers from May 2005 to
January 2006. He
was also charged with severe fraud and corruption offense for collecting
4257.70 Birr using the false documents and preparing fake land holding
documents for several individuals. After looking in to the cases, the court recently gave five years of rigorous imprisonment plus 2,000 Birr fine to Tesfaye Dires Gennaw and five years of rigorous imprisonment to Teshome Alemayehu Gurbachew. |
|
Corruptors
get prison term, cash fine Addis Ababa- FEACC- Oct29, 2008-
The Dire Dawa Bench of the Federal High Court sentenced Deputy Sergeant
Mohammed Hussien and other four individuals to six years of
rigorous imprisonment and 3,000 Birr fine each for committing corruption
offense while they were on duty. Four
former members of the Dire Dawa Police Commission, Deputy Sergeant
Mohammed Hussien, Deputy Sergeant Mekbib Teshome, Constable Mathios
Teferra, Constable Mekonnen Tesfaye and Kiros Gessese, who was employee
of the Dire Dawa Customs Office, were all convicted of violating the
1997 E.C criminal code by grabbing money while they were on duty,
according to the charge filed by the FEACC. The
five defendants grabbed 164,000 Birr that belonged to Awale Lamre, an
individual victim and who was on board on a vehicle heading from Bekae
town to Dire Dawa on August 25, 1998 E.C. The
convicts took the stated sum of money after stopping and rummage-around
the vehicle in the pretext of searching for contraband goods, the charge
reads. After looking in to the evidences produced by the prosecutor, the court passed the decision against the defendants on October 23, 2008. |
|
FEACC presses charges against S. Korean,9
accomplices over telecom fraud Addis Ababa- FEACC- Oct 03,
2008-The
Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) on October 02,
2008 filed charges against a South Korean citizen who is in custody
for allegedly involving in a telecom scam. The
charge filed by the FEACC states that the South Korean who entered to
Ethiopia using tourist visa was rendering international telephone call
service using telecom gadgets illegally imported from abroad. The
Ethiopian Information Network Security Agency (EINSA) has confirmed
that using the telecom gadget, which the convict utilized to make
connections with a server installed in South Korea, is unlawful. The
charge also counted four former employees of the Ethiopian
Telecommunication Corporation (ETC) who sold 21 blocked and unused SIM
cards to the South Korean and assisted him to secure license for the
provision of Broadband Internet Service, which is not allowed for
foreign citizens. Moreover,
five individuals who have been illicitly providing international
telephone call service using the ID and pass word they obtained from
the South Korean have also been charged. The
telecom fraud committed by the South Korean and his accomplices from
October 2007 to August 2008 cost the ETC over 4,527,845 Birr,
according to the charge. After looking in to the charges, the First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court rejected the bail request of the convicts and adjourned the case until October 14, 2008. |
|
FEACC,
Transparency Ethiopia hold panel discussion Addis Ababa- FEACC- September 26,2008- " Corruption and the Private Sector", a panel discussion co-organized by the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) and Transparency Ethiopia (TE) a civil society organization engaged in fighting corruption was held here at the Ghion hotel on September ,2005. The
half day panel discussion was organized based on the agreement the
FEACC and TE reached earlier to hold successive forums that aimed at
raising public's awareness towards ongoing anti-corruption moves. Opening
the panel discussion, Deputy Commissioner of the FEACC, Addisu
Mengistu underlined that the forum is of paramount importance to
highlight that combating corruption should be a primary issue in
materializing the ongoing peace, development, democratization and good
governance efforts. Some
private organizations in a society with high prevalence of corruption
often got involved in corrupt practices to enjoy illegal benefits, the
Deputy Commissioner said and added that such a move makes the majority
of the private sector ineffective in their business conducts. Four
research papers were presented and discussed on the course of the
panel discussion that attracted about 70 participants from various
government and private institutions. Presenters of the research papers gave briefings on the concept of corruption crime emphasizing on the causes and measures that should be taken to prevent corrupt practices that are frequently witnessed in the private sector. |
|
Ombudsman
of Rwanda expresses readiness to work with FEACC Addis
Ababa (FEACC) - The Ombudsman of Rwanda expressed readiness to
work in partnership and collaboration with the Federal Ethics and
Anti-corruption Commission of Ethiopia (FEACC) in the areas of human
rights protection and corruption prevention. During
the discussion he held with the Commissioner of the FEACC on 22
September 2007, Chief of the Ombudsman of Rwanda, Mr. Toti Rutaremara,
commended the efforts being exerted in Ethiopia to eradicate
corruption and underscored the need to lay down experience sharing
programmes in a sustainable manner. He
also attached significant premium on such programmes in preventing
corruption and protecting human rights in the two sisterly countries. Commissioner Ali Sulaiman on his part stressed the necessity to intensify the national anti-corruption struggle in a bid to make sure that it wouldn't hinder the on-going development and democratization processes in the Country. |
|
FEACC
said scoring encouraging results in preventing, controlling corruption FEACC-Addis
Ababa- Sept 19, 2008-
Commissioner of the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC),
Ali Suleiman said that the commission has registered several encouraging
results in the areas of preventing and controlling corruption over the
past seven years. In his recent interview with the “Ethiopia
Today” a bimonthly magazine published by the Ministry of
Information, Commissioner Ali said that the FEACC has made due efforts
to raise public’s awareness on the issue of corruption and has managed
to reach millions of people through various communication channels. The Commission has examined the
practice and working procedures of about 50 government offices and
public enterprises and has put forward corrective measures. It has also
followed up the implementation of the recommendations, the Commissioner
added. The Commission has set up a department
that is entrusted with the task of coordinating activities of major
stakeholders in the fight against corruption through out the country, he
said. So far, the Commission passed
decisions on over 11,000 tip-offs and complaints lodged by the public. Furthermore, the Commissioner said the
FEACC has prosecuted more than 800 alleged corruptors, out of which 200
were sentenced to 3-19 years of imprisonment. The Commission’s
conviction rate has now reached 80 to 85 percent on average. Commissioner Ali cited the illegal
land grabbing, the gold scam at the National Bank of Ethiopia and the
shady telecom bid as areas against which the commission launched
successful crackdown, recently. On the other hand, he said, FEACC has
already begun reaping the fruits of its Business Process Re- Engineering
(BPR) studies whose implementation begun last year. Following the implementation of the
BPR, key processes in the Commission are undertaking their activities
efficiently and effectively, he added. Overall, it is possible to say that the Commission has succeeded in making the fight against corruption a public agenda, the Commissioner underlined. |
|
FEACC investigates 34
corruption-prone offices, implements finding Monday, 15 September 2008 Addis
Ababa, September 15 (WIC) - The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption
Commission (FEACC) announced that it has studied the working systems of
34 government offices and public enterprises that are prone to
corruption and malpractices. FEACC
Corruption Prevention Director Aklilu Mulugeta told WIC the
investigation is carried out on government offices and public
enterprises to foster transparency and accountability and thereby
prevent corruption and malpractices. He
said the study is carried out on 9 offices under the Addis Ababa city
administration, 13 Federal government offices, 7 public enterprises and
several other service providing institutions. The
Commission carried out the study on the offices and enterprises because
the services they provide are directly linked to the general public, the
Director indicated. According
to the Director, the study was focused on procurement, property
administration, finance, licensing and control, land and construction,
sales, personnel management and other related sectors. Follow
up activities are well underway regarding the implementation of the
findings of the study on the working systems. The study will help
government offices, public enterprises and service providing
institutions avoid corruption and malpractices as well as raising
awareness, he added. (Source: WIC) |
|
Federal,
regional anti corruption commissions hold 5th
regular conference FEACC-Addis
Ababa- August 26, 2008- The Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) and regional anti-corruption
commissions held their 5th regular conference from August 18
to 19, 2008 in Axum town, Tigray State. FEACC Deputy Commissioner, Addisu Mengistu,
speaking at the conference, said that fighting corruption should be
taken as duty and responsibility of all concerned bodies. The Deputy Commissioner urged federal and regional
institutions engaged in fighting corruption and other concerned bodies
to scale up efforts with a view to ensuring sustainability of ongoing
good governance and development endeavors. All regional governments, minus the Afar State,
were represented by their respective anti corruption commissions, while
the Somali State was represented at the conference by the region’s
police and prosecutor office. The two day conference heard six months performance
report of members of the joint forum and evaluated execution of
decisions passed during preceding meetings, Ethics Education and Public
Relations Department Director Berhanu Assefa said. Participants of the conference have underlined that
outstanding results have been scored in the efforts made so far towards
creating close collaboration among anti corruption commissions at
regional and federal levels. The Director also mentioned that participants of
the conference have agreed that performance reports and decisions passed
by the joint forum would be published annually and distributed to
regional governments and other pertinent bodies. Discussions were also held on a study conducted to
spot loopholes in the anti-corruption laws that are challenging the anti
corruption struggle waged nationwide. The conference has stressed on the need for sealing
such loopholes by amending the anti corruption proclamations or through
employing other options. The FEACC has been assigned to take
responsibility and work on the matter, Berhanu said. Enhancing existing relation among federal and
regional anti corruption commissions is among the major objectives of
the joint forum that meets twice a year. The conference chose Oromia to host the 6th federal, regional anti corruption commissions’ regular conference scheduled to be held after six months. |
|
FEACC
employees discuss 2000 E.C performance
report, 2001 E.C plan FEACC
- Addis Ababa - August 08/2008 Employees
of the Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) on August 07/2008 discussed the
commission's performance report during the past Ethiopian budget year
& the plan it set for the current Ethiopian budget year. The
performance report of the commission by the year 2000 E.C indicated that
over 85% of most of the plans set for the budget year have been
attained. Execution of some plans has also exceeded that of the initial
target, the report shows. The
report highlighted that notable result has been scored in the
implementation of the Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) study, which
had been incorporated in the plan as a key element towards bringing
about transformation with in the FEACC. Moreover,
the performance report listed the results various departments &
units of the commission obtained in accomplishing their respective plans
during the budget year. Limited
number of competent professionals in the job market, shortage of
logistics, such as vehicles were among the challenges faced in
undertaking last budget year's plan, it was mentioned. Meanwhile,
effective implementation of the BPR as well as creation of strong
relationships with various stakeholders
were mentioned as
the major success stories witnessed in the last budget year, the report
says. FEACC
Commissioner Ali Sulaiman on the occasion said that the Commission has
carried out effective activities in involving the public in the
anti-corruption battle. Public
trust on the FEACC has steadily been growing over time, Ail said and
called on employees of the commission to make all efforts towards
achieving even better results during the current budget year. FEACC
Deputy Commissioner, Addisu Mengistu also said that the laudable result
the FEACC scored during the past budget year was the out come of
commitment of officials & employees of the Commission.
Yet,
a lot is expected from officials & employees of the FEACC in a
bid to realize institutional transformation & building
credibility & image of the FEACC in the future, Addisu underlined. On the same day, plan of the FEACC for 2001 E.C. budget year was tabled. |
|
Corrupt
revenue collector jailed FEACC
- Addis Ababa - August 4/2000 The
Dire Dawa town High Court gave six years of rigorous imprisonment to an
individual convicted of corruption offense. The
charge leveled by the FEACC against Mersha Bogale Asfaw, former revenue
collector at the Dire Dawa town revenue authority, stated that the
culprit committed the corruption act by preparing fake documents. According
to the charge, the convict illicitly consumed over 41,760 Birr by
deleting & mismatching the amount of money on different copies of
cash collection slips. The
individual committed the offense during tax & tarrif collection held
during 1999 E.C, the charge says. The court passed the ruling last week. |
|
Federal,
regional anti-corruption commissions to hold 5th regular
conference FEACC,
Addis Ababa - Aug 01, 2008
The
Federal Ethics & Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) & regional
anti-corruption Commissions will hold their 5th regular Conference
from August 18-19/2008 in Axum, Tigray state. Briefing
journalists about the conference on August 1/2008, Ethics
Infrastraction Coordination Department Director with FEACC, Hailu
Berhe said that facilitating ways towards uniform implementation of
anti-corruption laws is among the prime objectives of the upcoming
conference. Enhancing
existing relation among members of the joint forum as well as
designing a common strategy for the anti-corruption struggle are also
the focuses of the conference, the Director added. According to the Director, the conference would provide noble opportunity for the participants to share their experience & exchange views on issues of common concern. The
joint forum would also hear performance report of its members over the
past half year & evaluate execution of decisions passed during
previous conferences. Amhara,
Tigray, Southern Ethiopia Nations, Nationalities & peoples state,
Oromiya, Gambella & Benishangul Gumuz states have established
their own anti-corruption commissions, while the Harari state's anti
corruption commission is
expected to go functional this budget year. Regions that have not so far established their own anti-corruption commission are also members of the joint forum & would be represented by regional police commissions & justice and security bureaus on the conference, it was mentioned. |
|
11
federal government institutions establish joined-up forum FEACC- Addis Ababa- July 31, 2008-The FEACC and other 10 federal government institutions that are engaged particularly in activities of ensuring the rule of law and also frequently communicate towards achieving their mission have established a joined-up forum on July30, 2008. The joined-up forum, which is the first of its kind in Ethiopia, is believed to facilitate ways through which the federal institutions could shore up their efforts and carry out their respective activities in a more coordinated manner. Opening the founding conference that discussed and
adopted the draft statute of the forum, Speaker of the House of
Peoples’ Representatives (HPR) Ambassador Teshome Toga said that such
forums are of paramount importance in enabling member institutions
become more effective as part of the overall democratization process. In his presentation on the significance of
establishing the joined-up forum, Dr. Zewdeneh Beyene, a private
consultant, highlighted that though it is a recent approach establishing
such forums is proved to be effective in supporting efficient conduct of
public sector business. After holding discussions and adding few
recommendations, founding members of the forum collectively adopted the
draft statute, which had earlier been distributed among them. The legal and Administrative Affairs Standing
Committee of the HPR permanently chairs the forum, while seat of the
secretary goes round members of the forum for one year term, according
to the statute. The Federal Institution of the Ombudsman has been
elected to serve as secretary of the forum for the coming one year. On the same session, the forum set up a steering
committee that comprises five of the founding members and is responsible
to identify activities due to be carried out by members of the forum in
the future. The forum has also passed decision that a committee
composed of all members of the forum would be set up to study and come
up with ideas on possible challenges the forum might face in undertaking
its activities. Legal and Administrative Affairs Standing Committee with the HPR, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, Federal Institution of the Ombudsman, FEACC, Federal Police, Supreme Court, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Capacity Building, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Federal Civil Service Agency and Federal Auditor General are the federal institutions that signed up to the forum. |
|
FEACC
arrests seven suspects of corruption crime FEACC-Addis
Ababa- July 25, 2008- The
Federal Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (FEACC) arrested seven of
the eight individuals suspected of taking part in a corruption offense
committed at the Education Materials Manufacturing and Distribution
Enterprise. The corruption offense involved over 980,000 Birr. The eight suspects have committed the corruption by
allowing purchase of various inputs out of the tender regulation that
requires procurement of materials estimated over 30,000 Birr should be
held through open tender. It was confirmed that various inputs including hardboard , plywood, tyres, computers and printers worth over 980,000 Birr were purchased through direct procurement and limited-tender at different times. A variety of below-the-standard materials valued
over 78,000 Birr have also been procured out of the necessary quality
specification. The corruption offense incurred a financial loss,
estimated at over 980,000 Birr plus an unidentified damage on the
government. Seven of the eight suspects, including
enterprise’s General Manager, former finance head, quality control
expert as well as members of the procurement committee that put their
hands in the corruption were arrested on July 22, 2008. The remaining suspect is still at large. |
|
Four
suspects in custody for consultancy tender scam FEACC-Addis
Ababa- July 25,2008-The FEACC arrested four suspects for
allegedly involving in a corruption committed at the Ministry of Federal
Affairs that resulted in
the cancellation of over 1.39 million Birr grant provided by the World
Bank for the execution of disaster preparedness and contingency plan in
23 pastoralist woredas. The FEACC on July 23, 2008 arrested the four
suspects who were assigned at different positions of the Pastoralist
Community Development Project Unit that was responsible for the
execution of the disaster preparedness and contingency plan with the
financial support of the WB. The suspects committed the swindle in the process of hiring a consultant firm for the project. The FEACC investigated the matter based on a letter
the WB sent to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in
November 2007 stating that the procurement of consultant firms was
carried out in violation of the guideline set by the WB on selection and
employment of consultants. Short listing consultants with out advertising for
an expression of interest and awarding of three contracts on a
direct-contract basis were also mentioned as violations committed by the
officials in the process. As a result, the WB announced the cancellation of a
938,119 Birr fund from the grant agreement and requested reimbursement
of 454,031.95 Birr which has been disbursed earlier for the procurement
of the consultancy service. Four individuals including project’s policy and research, purchasing and finance officers have been apprehended and were brought before the court by the Commission. |
|
Corrupt
Police Sergeant gets prison term FEACC-Addis
Ababa- July21-2008- The First Criminal bench of the Federal
High Court sentenced Sergeant Worku Getahun, former member of the Nefes
Silk-Lafto sub city Police Department in Addis Ababa to serve one year
imprisonment, for corruption offense. According to the charge filed by the Federal Ethics
and Anti Corruption Commission against the defendant, an individual
called Yohannes Kahsai was traveling from Merkato to Mekanisa on number
2 Anbessa city bus in Addis Ababa. While on board, the individual learnt
that he was pick pocketed 900 Birr. Soon after, the victim, together with other
passengers took a suspect named Solomon Getachew to the nearby
Nefas-Silk-lafto sub city police department. Up on their arrival at the police station a police
investigator who was on duty ordered the convict, Sergeant Worku Getahun
to take and ransack the suspect at an isolated place. Eventually, Sergeant Worku reported that he found
nothing and denied to have got the stated sum of money, which the victim
claimed to have been stolen by the suspect, the charge reads. Accordingly, the defendant was charged of taking
and veiling the money he found while ransacking the suspect. As was unable to refute the charge, the court on
July 11, 2008 gave the convict one year imprisonment. |
|
Lawbreaker
gets three years behind bars FEACC-Addis
Ababa- July 14, 2008-The Amhara Regional State Supreme Court
sentenced an individual convicted of committing corrupt practices by
misusing his power to
three years’ rigorous imprisonment. The convict, Birelew Belay was charged for misusing
his power with the intention of getting illicit gains while he was
working as a contract employee at the Dangila Branch of the Agriculture
Inputs Supply Enterprise, from February, 2000 to January 2004. The charge pressed against the convict says that
the convict abused public property and twisted documents with the
intention of obtaining illicit benefits amounting over 1,000 Birr during
the stated period. As he was proved to commit the corruption offenses, the court on July 02, 2008 gave the Birelew Belay three years of rigorous imprisonment. |
|
FEACC-Addis
Ababa- July18, 2008-The Dire Dawa City Administration High
Court recently gave an individual, who was senior inspection officer at
the Dire Dawa Airport customs office, six years of rigorous imprisonment
and 8,000 Birr fine for corruption offense. The
charge filed by the FEACC against the culprit, who goes by the name
Moges Mulugeta Welede Semayat, states that the culprit was responsible
to verify the volume of Khat
that is exported via the Dire Dawa Airport with the volume allowed on the declaration slip and to make
sure that Khat is not exported
without letter of credit (LC). Putting
aside his responsibilities, the charge says, the culprit facilitated
export of 267,750 kilograms of khat
from 2001 to 2002 to the Somaliland. He committed the fraud by reusing
declaration slips and bank permission numbers that had already been
used. The
government, due to the corrupt offense, lost one million and 71,000 USD
that it could have obtain had the stated volume of khat
been exported legally, the charge reads. As he was unable to defend himself against the charges, the court gave the convict six years of rigorous imprisonment and 8,000 Birr fine. |
|
Commission
plans to fight corruption in construction sector ADDIS
ABABA(FEACC)- Commissioner of the Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission said that the
Commission has planned to combat corruption in the construction
sector. While holding discussion
with Mr. Neill Stansbury, Director of
Global Infrastructure Anti-Corruption
Center(GIACC) on 9 July 2008, Commissioner Ali
Sulaiman said the Commission
was making preparation to tackle corruption in the construction
sector as the sector was vulnerable to corruption. The construction sector,
which mobilizes huge resources to construct social facilities that are
indispensable to the public, needs to perform in a transparent and
accountable manner, the
Commissioner noted. The Commission would monitor construction activities during
and after the construction phase and bring suspects before the law if it
believed that corruption was committed, he said. Global Infrastructure Anti-Corruption
Center would conduct a
study in the construction sector here in Ethiopia to assess the level of
transparency and accountability, it was learned. During the discussion,
the Commission has expressed its desire to work with the Center. The two sides also agreed in principle to build the capacity of the Commission's staff in an effort to tackle corruption in the construction industry. Based in England, GIACC is an independent not-for-profit organization which provides resources and services for the purpose of preventing corruption in the infrastructure, construction and engineering sectors, according to its website. |
|
Court
sends corruptors to jail FEACC-
Addis Ababa- July 10,2008- The First Criminal bench of the
Federal High Court
sentenced Tesfa Saketa Keno, former head of general service at the
Ethiopian Export Trade Promotion Agency and Iyassu Tesfa Gebrehiwot, his
accomplice, to two years and one and half years rigorous imprisonment,
respectively, for corruption offenses. According to the charge filed by the FEACC, the
first convict Tesfa Saketa Keno abused his power for illicit personal
gains while he was working as secretary of a tender committee set up at
the enterprise for the procurement of books and magazines in 2001. The convict misused his power and produced fake
documents with the intention of favoring Image International Private
Limited Company, one of the competitors of the tender that submitted
230,308.19 Birr, which was higher than that of the price given by the
other competitor, Ashock Malik General Importer, by 79,265 Birr. The charge also indicated that the convict denied Ashock Malik General Importer access to a letter the tender committee had prepared to get further explanation from the two competitors on 100 percent advance payment request by the latter. The convict had intentionally concealed a letter
the tender committee had prepared to Ashock Malik General Importer, the
charge says. The convict received 5,000 Birr bribe from the
second convict, Iyassu Tesfa Gebrehiwot for favoring Image International
Private Limited Company to appear as a sole competitor and won the
tender. A financial loss amounting 79,265 Birr has been
incurred on the government due to the corruption offense committed by
the two culprits, it added. As they failed to refute the charge, the court on July 7, 2008 sentenced Tesfa Saketa Keno and Iyassu Tesfa Gebrehiwot to two years and one and half years of rigorous imprisonment, respectively. |
|
Corruptors
sent behind bars FEACC--Addis
Ababa- July 11, 2008-The Yaka Sub city bench of the Federal
First Instant Court sentenced four convicts found engaged in corrupt
practices involving over 347,478 Birr to prison term ranging from 11
months to six years. The charge pressed by the FEACC indicated that the
first convict, Teshome Brehane, who was working as security guard at the
Ethiopian Select Seed Enterprise, collaborated with his accomplices to
get illicit personal benefits through misusing his power. The convict collaborated and allowed the other
convicts to break into a warehouse and garage of the Enterprise situated
around Kazanchis area and take various auto spare parts worth over 347,
478 Birr. Accordingly, the FEACC accused the convict of
corruption offenses and misusing public office for illicit personal
gains. As they failed to disprove the charge, the court on
July 7, 2008 sentenced the first convict Teshome Brehane to six years of
rigorous imprisonment plus1000 Birr and the second convict, who goes by
the name Kibruyisfa Teklie, to 11 months prison term. Meanwhile, as they were found guilty of collaborating with the first and second convicts, the court gave Tewfiq Oulena and Yousuf Hamdella, the third and fourth convicts in the same file, to four years of rigorous imprisonment each. |
|
Commissioner
calls for synchronized effort to prevent corruption ADDIS
ABABA(FEACC)- Commissioner of the Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission, H.E. Ato Ali Sulaiman called for a
synchronized effort to prevent
corruption, which is affecting national pride apart from hindering
development endeavors. Speaking at a panel
discussion co-organized by the FEACC and Transparency Ethiopia on 3 July
2008 under a theme "Corruption and Service Delivery in
Ethiopia", Commissioner Ali said the costs of corruption would be
devastating unless each and every citizen and institution join forces to
fight it. Cognizant of the need
for collective effort, the FEACC has been working in close partnership
and collaboration with pertinent bodies, the Commissioner added. There is a tendency to
associate corruption only with service delivery in government offices
and enterprises, the Commissioner said, adding that corruption and
improprieties being committed in the private sector deserve due
attention. Explaining that the
FEACC has been mandated to tackle corruption committed in the government
offices and government enterprises, Commissioner Ali urged Transparency
Ethiopia and other institutions engaged in the anti-corruption drive to deal with corruption and other improprieties that are being
committed in the private sector. Some three papers dealing with the historical background of the civil service, loopholes conducive for corruption in the civil service, justice system as well as land administration were presented during the panel discussion. |
|
Court
gives jail terms to corruptors FEACC-Addis Ababa, June
18,2000- The First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court
sentenced two individuals found guilty of involving in corruption
offenses to imprisonment and cash fines. The Court recently passed the verdict over Alebel
Seleshi, who was working as a Teller at the
Kirkos Sub City Western Union Branch of the Commercial Bank of
Ethiopia (CBE) and Seleshi
Seifu, former Supervisor at the stated branch of the CBE. The first defendant was charged by the FEACC on
April 9,1999 E.C for abusing 142,895 Birr of the over 257,689 Birr he
signed for and received from the head office of the CBE from February 19
to 21,1999 E.C. The second defendant, Seleshi Seifu was also
charged in the same file for failing to supervise and made the necessary
balance sheet of the stated three days on which the first defendant got
access to take the money. Accordingly, the Court on May 28,2000 E.C sentenced
Alebel Seleshi to six years of rigorous imprisonment and fined 3,000 Birr as he was found guilty of abusing office for
private gain. The second defendant, Seleshi Seifu has also been given one year prison term as he was found guilty by the Court for showing laxity in conducting his duties. |
Court sends corruptors to jail FEACC- June 18,2000,
Addis Ababa- The First Criminal
Bench of the Federal High Court sent
corruptors, who were found guilty of abusing their powers for personal
gains, to jail. The Court on June
12,2000 E.C passed the
guilty verdict on the defendants who were proven guilty and failed to
defend themselves against the charges pressed earlier by the Federal
Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (FEACC) for illegally putting away
close to one million Birr by misusing their power. Accordingly, the
Court sentenced Girma Bekele Dadi, who was Head of Insurance and
Accident Sub Department head with the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE),
to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a 12,000 Birr fine. The other defendant in the same file, Aneley Mussie
Getu, who was Head of Asset Registration and Finance Department with the
CBE, got nine years of rigorous imprisonment and 11,000 Birr fine. Other defendants, Dr. Kebede Tsige and Kidane Emeshaw, who were proved to put hands in the corrupt practices along with the above mentioned offenders, also received seven years of rigorous imprisonment plus 10,000 Birr fine and five years of rigorous imprisonment with 8,000 Birr fine, respectively. |
|
Corruptor
gets 8 years behind bars, 5,000 Birr fine Addis
Ababa (FEACC): - The first Criminal Bench of the Federal High
Court gave 8 years of rigorous imprisonment & 5,000 Birr fine for an
individual found guilty of collaborating with 3 federal police members
in corrupt practices. Aimro
Wubet, along with 3 members of the federal police, was charged with
intimidating & robbing an individual, Yunus Yasin, while the Victim
was arriving at the Bole International Airport from Saudi Arabia on May
10, 2006. According
to the charge filed by the FEACC, the convicts unlawfully arrested Yunus
by telling him that he was on the list of people wanted by the
government. The
Convicts drove Yunus out of the Airport & later moved him to another
vehicle that belongs to the federal police commission, the charge says.
Then,
the convicts robbed Yunus of 464,000 USD & other valuables, the
charge reads. The
court Therefore, gave Aimro Wubet 8 Years of rigorous imprisonment &
5,000 Birr fine on June 9, 2008. The
court earlier gave 12 Years of rigorous prison term plus 5,000 Birr fine
& 8 years of rigorous imprisonment with 2,000 Birr fine for Sergent
Molla Temesgen & Constable Hassen Indris, respectively, who were
found guilty of abusing their power & engaging in corrupt practices
along with Aimro Wubet. Similarly, another convict in the same charge, Constable Ashenafi Berhe got 10 years of rigorous prison term & 3,000 Birr fine. |
|
Members
of former CBE management receive prison terms Addis
Ababa (FEACC) - The former members of the Commercial Bank of
Ethiopia Management received prison terms ranging from one to seven and
half years on 11 June 2008. The convicts were
accused of contravening the Bank's regulations in providing loans, it
was learned. The Federal High
Court gave the verdict, as the convicts failed to refute the charges
brought against them by the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption
Commission (FEACC). The Former President of the Bank, Tilahun Abay, received the highest prison term, which was seven and half years. |
|
Commission
participates in 2nd IAACA Seminar ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-
The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) Participated
in the second seminar of the International Association
of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) held in Chongqing, China
from 14-23 May 2008. In the Seminar held
under the theme, "Effective Preventive
Measures in the Fight against Corruption ", Commissioner of
the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, H.E. Ato Ali Sulaiman,
delivered a speech on the activities the FEACC has been carrying
out in an effort to prevent and control corruption. The fact that the FEACC
has assigned ethics officers at public offices and public enterprises
was hailed as a special feature, according to Commissioner Ali. Commissioner Ali said
participants of the Seminar also lauded
the establishment of ethics
and civics clubs at schools throughout the country. Furthermore, the
practice of examining the
working practices and procedures of public offices and enterprises,
which the FEACC adopted from Hong Kong in order to plug loopholes
believed to be vulnerable to corruption, has won wide acclamation, the
Commissioner added. All in all, the
participants commended the comprehensive approach the FEACC has been
pursuing to prevent and control corruption and other improprieties,
Commissioner Ali noted. The Commissioner said
various anti-corruption authorities presented their respective
organizational structure and working practices and procedures and
discussion was held on them. According to the
Commissioner, the FEACC has learned the need to
strengthen the surveillance and intelligence activities to
deal with the growing complexity and subtlety of corruption
offences as countries that registered remarkable results in fighting
corruption had best used their surveillance and intelligence
units. Delegates from over 100 countries took part in the Seminar, it was learned. |
|
Commission
holds mapping session Addis
Ababa (FEACC) - Senior members of the Federal Ethics and
Anti-corruption Commission (FEACC) and anti-corruption experts from the
World Bank held a joint session on 29 April 2008 on mapping the second
national corruption survey to be conducted in the years to come for the
second time. During
the session held at the Commission's Conference Hall, participants
deliberated on the significance of conducting mapping before launching
the second national corruption survey. The
whole purpose of conducting the mapping is to establish a frame work for
conducting the second national corruption survey. Accordingly,
the participants forwarded ideas that could serve as an input to the
mapping project. The
FEACC will be conducting the mapping in partnership with the World Bank.
|
|
House
hears FEACC's
performance report ADDIS ABABA(ENA)-The
House of Peoples' Representatives (HPR) during its 27th regular session
on 29 April 2008 heard the nine-month performance report of the Federal
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC). After hearing the report
presented by the FEACC Commissioner Ali Sulaiman, Legal and
Administrative Affairs Standing Committee of the House said that the
commission should further step up efforts launched
to know the degree of vulnerability of the country to corruption. The Standing Committee
also underlined the need for designing and enforcing a legal provision
to offer people who provide tips- off on corruption offenses with legal
protection. Moreover, the Standing
Committee stressed that it is vital to enhance ongoing efforts aimed at
providing legal framework for ethics officers. The activities of the
FEACC conducted in fighting corrupt practices that had been widely
surfaced in connection with land administration in the metropolis won
wide acclamation among the public, the Standing Committee said, and
noted that such drives should further be enhanced. FEACC Commissioner Ali
Sulaiman on his part said that the commission is closely working with
various pertinent bodies towards combating corruption that aggravates
poverty by hindering socio-economic and political development of a
country. Accordingly, the
commission conducted and
has begun fully implementing BPR over the past nine months, the
commissioner said. Moreover, the commission
has provided basic ethics and anti-corruption education at various
government offices and development enterprises. The commission during
the past nine months has also accepted over 2,500 tips- off from the
public, he said. Commissioner Ali gave replies to questions raised by members of the parliament during the session. |
|
Corruptors
get 7 to 13 years of
imprisonment ADDIS
ABABA(FEACC)-The First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court
on 18 April 2008 sentenced Sem Wube
Eshete, former Commercial Bank employee, and Eyosiyas Tesfamariam
Esuamlak, his accomplice, to 13 and 7 years of imprisonment respectively
for corruption offense. According to the charge
filed against them by the FEACC, Sem, along with Eyosiyas and another
accomplice who has been in the hideout, willfully prepared counterfeit
document in order to swindle over 1,118,000 birr the Finish Evangelical Lutheran sent to the Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Mekane
Yesus through three
different swift messages to be paid by the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. By taking advantage of
the code number he was able to know while carrying out his duties, Sem,
who was a staff member at the foreign money transfer section with the
International Relations Department of the Bank and his accomplices
altered the names and addresses of the sender, the receiver and the
paying branch bank on the swift message and deposited a total of over
1,118,000 birr into three bank accounts, which they opened for this
particular purposes. The culprits withdrew
over 1,050,000 birr from the accounts
and used it up. As a result, the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia had
to pay the above mentioned sum to the Ethiopian Evangelical Church, the
charge reads. Therefore, the Court handed down the verdict as the convicts have failed to defend themselves from the charge pressed against them. |
|
Investigation
of an alleged corruption involving the Commission's staffer finalized Addis
Ababa (FEACC)-The investigation of an
alleged corruption offence involving a member of the Federal Ethics and
Anti-corruption Commission's staff was finalized and the Prosecution
Department was scrutinizing it further to decide on its prosecution.
Woleli
Zeru Bekele, former member of the Corruption Prevention Department, was
arrested on 15 March 2008 for allegedly receiving bribe from a woman who
was under investigation by the Commission on corruption in exchange for
the suspension of the investigation of the case. However, he has been released from prison on bail. |
|
Commission
arrests two suspects Addis
Ababa (FEACC) - The
Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEACC) arrested two
business men on 29 March 2008 for allegedly trying to bribe its
surveillance officer who
was assigned to investigate an alleged corruption offence committed by
them. The two
individuals allegedly evaded tax when they imported 13-million birr
worth commodities back in 2007 and the Commission had launched an
investigation into the case as soon as the matter was brought to its
attention. Then, the
suspects approached the surveillance officer and pledged to offer him
150, 000 Birr in bribe in exchange for the immediate suspension of the
investigation of the case. The
surveillance officer, then, brought the matter to the attention of the
Commission, which arrested the suspects red-handed while trying to bribe
the officer. The Commission commended the surveillance officer for the professional and exemplar integrity he had shown in handling the case and rejecting the bribe. |
|
Corrupt
manager, his accomplice receive jail terms, fines ADDIS
ABABA(FEACC)-The First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court
sentenced Mesfin Tekle, former
manager of the Federal Inland Revenue Authority in the Amhara Regional
State, and his accomplice to 14 and 5
years of rigorous imprisonment respectively for extorting 750,000
birr Mesfin Tekle, by breach of trust, intimidated owners of
a certain cotton mill saying that they owed the government
20,000,000 birr in sales tax when they actually owed the government
2,271, 121 birr. He also told them that they would be jailed,
according to the charge pressed against them by the FEACC. Then, he asked them to
pay him 1,000,000 birr so that, he said, "you would be freed from
everything". Finally Mesfin
ordered the owners to give his sister, Sister Tizibt Tekle
750,000 birr, the amount the owners eventually agreed to pay him. Consequently, the charge
reads, Tizibt had received a total of
750,000 birr from the owners and Mesfin, through his sister,
delivered the owners in return a letter explaining that they owed the
government only 2085 birr. The Court recently handed down the verdict after the convicts failed to defend themselves against the charge. |
|
Court sends corruptors to jail Addis
Ababa (FEACC)-The
Federal High Court gave two corruptors three years of imprisonment each
on 25 March 2008 for their involvement in corrupt activities. According
to the Prosecution Department of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption
Commission, Ashenafi Gebre Michael, was found guilty of conspiracy to
get away with criminal charges pressed against him. The
accused reportedly manipulated a former police constable, the first
defendant, to defect through a false promise to facilitate the
employment of the latter in South African companies. He was admitted to
the Police Hospital claiming that he was sick, it was learned. Then,
the second defendant tranquillized a second police officer (who was
assigned to guard him) with a drug and escaped with the first defendant. The
first defendant, Andualem Mekonnen, received 5000 Birr from Ashenafi,
after the two escaped to Woliso, it was learned. The
court found Andualem Mekonnen guilty of assisting Ashenafi Gebre Michael
in exchange for the 5000 birr he received in bribe. Ashenafi Gebre Michael got the jail term for his involvement in corruption scandal and other criminal acts. |
|
Former
Bank employee gets 18 years ADDIS
ABABA(FEACC)-The First Criminal Bench of
the Federal High Court recently
sentenced former secretary of
foreign banks with
the Construction and Business Bank, Alemu Tekle, to 18 years of rigorous
imprisonment and fined him 10,000 birr. According to the charge
the FEACC filed against the convict, the convict has prepared false
tickets and documents by simulating that the bank had bought foreign
currencies and cheques from a friend of the convict, against whom the
FEACC also pressed charge. The convict then
deposited 1,264,850 birr in the bank account of his accomplice as if the
documents and tickets had been audited and signed by the pertinent
heads. The sum deposited in the name of the accomplice was drawn on
various occasions and used up by the convict and his friend. The convict has failed to defend himself against the charge of serious fraud brought against him by the FEACC. |
|
Three
former ETC employees land in jail for corruption offense ADDIS
ABABA(FEACC)-The First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court
recently sentenced three former
employees of the Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation (ETC) and a
businessperson to three years' imprisonment each. Kassa H/Giorgis, former
manager of East Addis Ababa
branch office with ETC, Abiyot Asefa, former marketing section head of
East Addis Ababa branch office with ETC and Tegegn Girum, former
customers' service head of the East Addis Ababa branch office with ETC
were found guilty of illegally issuing license to an individual to make
international calls through his five wireless lines by breaching the
regulations and guidelines issued in connection with wireless
telephones. The charge pressed
against them by the FEACC
explains that Kebede Tirfe, who illegally received the license, had not paid the government over 621,000 birr, the amount of money he
collected by offering the lines to his customers to make international
calls between 22-29 July 2005. By abusing their power,
the four culprits willfully caused the government lose significant
amount of money, the charge reads. The court passed its verdict on the culprits after the latter failed to defend themselves against the evidence corroborated by the FEACC. |
|
Staff
member arrested for alleged corruption offense ADDIS
ABABA(FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC)
apprehended a staff member that goes by the name Weleli Zeru Bekele for
allegedly receiving money saying that he would terminate in return the
case of an individual whose case has been under investigation in
connection with illegal land proprietorship here in the capital. Weleli, who was working
at the Department of Corruption Prevention with the FEACC, was arrested
on 16 March 2008. The FEACC brought the
suspect before the First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court on 17
March 2008 and demanded a two-week time to carry out further
investigation for which the court gave its approval. It is to be recalled that the FEACC had earlier filed charge against another staff member who was caught red-handed while receiving bribes pledging in return to terminate the case of a housing cooperative, which the FEACC considered illegal. |
|
Corrupt
Federal Police members receive jail terms ADDIS ABABA(FEACC)-The
First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court recently gave 8-12 years
jail terms for three Federal Police members for robbing over 464,000 USD
and other property. The police members who had been on duty at the Bole
International Airport on 2 May 1998 E.C robbed Ato Yonus Yasin by
intimidating him while he was heading to his family, who were waiting to
welcome him. According to the charge
prepared by the FEACC, the convicts intimidated Ato Yonus, who had just
arrived at the airport from Saudi Arabia, saying that he was a criminal
who was wanted by the government and then drove him and his family by a
minibus towards Bole ring road and finally they made his family members
to get down somewhere in the road and drove away Ato Yonus. Eventually, the convicts
got Ato Yonus boarded another car belonged to the Federal Police and
received forcefully over 464,000USD. The FEACC prosecuted the
three convicts for abuse of power to which they failed to defend
themselves. As a result, Chief Sergeant Molla Temesgen received 12 years rigorous imprisonment and was fined 5000 birr while Constable Hassen Indris got eight years rigorous imprisonment and was fined 2000 birr. The third convict , Constable Ashenafi Berhe, received ten years of rigorous imprisonment and was fined 3000 birr. |
|
Court
denies bail to individuals suspected of gold scam ADDIS
ABABA(FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC)
said the First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court has rejected the
bail request of individuals suspected of gold scam. Director of Ethics
Education and Public Relations with the Commission, Berhanu Asefa, said
that the suspects, who appeared at the First Criminal Bench of the
Federal High Court on 21 March 2008, were denied bail. Charges would be pressed
against the suspects shortly as a joint probe which had been conducted
for the past three months by the FEACC, the Federal Police and the
National Intelligence Services was finalized, Berhanu said. Transaction of
90 kilograms phony gold had been conducted between 2005 and 2007
with the then value of 158 million birr, the director said. Some 26 suspects were
apprehended in connection with the fraud out of whom seven suspects were
from the National Bank of Ethiopia and four suspects were from the
Geological Survey while the remaining ones were businesspersons and
their accomplices, according to the director. Office of the General
Auditor, which was ordered to carry out audit, has completed its task
and forwarded a 16-page report that corroborates the evidence found
during the probe, he said. The assets of 11
business firms belonging to the suspects and their accomplices have been
frozen, he said, adding that a lot of gold and money was seized. Similarly, probe into 38 kilo grams of phony gold was well underway, the director added. |
|
FEACC files charges against four alleged corruptors ADDIS ABABA(FEACC)-The
Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption
recently filed charges against three former heads at the Lideta
sub-city of the Addis Ababa City Administration and an owner of
a private company. The accusation of corruption have been brought
against former deputy
executive and chairperson
of
construction materials procurement and supply committee, head of
procurement and property administration with the finance and economic
development office and former engineer with the infrastructure and
housing affairs office and who was also a member of procurement
committee. The accused
procured construction materials for the construction of schools in the
sub-city with an inflated price of over 1.9 million birr from an
Electrical Enterprise, which did not have trade license, according to
the charges brought against them. Besides, the two of the accused floated
a very urgent bid that lasted only three days with the intention
of lessening the number of potential bidders. Moreover, they
manipulated the bidding process by intimidating members of the
committee who opposed the procedures of the bid, the charge reads. Instead of
checking that the procurement was made in line with the bidding document
and other relevant regulations as well as making sure that the price was
not inflated, the third suspect, who was a member of the procurement
committee, had become an
accomplice. The forth suspect, who was the owner of Yobec
Electrical Enterprise breached relevant regulation with the full
knowledge that in the absence of trade license that the he was not
entitled to supply building materials. To make things even worse, he
sold each item, some were substandard, with inflated price, according to
the charge. Thus, the FEACC brought charge against them at the First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court and the accused were remanded in custody to follow their cases. |
|
FEACC
arrests alleged fugitive corruptor ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC)
caught one of the two individuals against whom it launched manhunt for
alleged corruption offences in connection with land provision in Kolfe
Keraniyo sub-city on 21 February 2008. Despite the announcement
in the media to submit himself to the pertinent bodies, Nuredin Yasin
Sabir had been in the hideout until he was caught by the FEACC. So far, three of the
four suspects that were summoned through the media to submit themselves
to the pertinent bodies for alleged corruption offences in the land
provision have been put under control. It is to be recalled that two of
them submitted themselves to the FEACC two months ago. The FEACC has
intensified the manhunt to arrest the remaining one. The suspects had earlier
won a lease bid that entitled them to obtain plots around the area
called Furi. However, the suspects appealed to be granted another
substitute plots claiming that the plots they had won was designated for
green area. As a result, they were able to obtain plots with higher
lease price and larger in size than the previous ones. The FEACC alleges that
illegally collaborating with the former heads of the sub-city, the
suspects gained undue advantages. In a related development, the FEACC on 22 February 2008 caught two prosecutors with the Ministry of Justice red handed while receiving 3000 in order to terminate in return the prosecution of an individual suspected of being a ruffian. |
|
Commission
apprehends staff member for allegedly taking bribe ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission
caught one of its staff members and another who was a member of the
Federal Police red handed while taking bribe on 24 January 2008. Tsegaye Hailu, who
served as an undercover agent and escort of prisoners with the
Commission, received the bribe promising in return to close the case of
a certain housing cooperative, which was under investigation by the
Commission for alleged illegality, claiming that he was intimate with
the officials of the Commission and other government officials. The suspects were caught
red-handed while receiving unspecified amount of money of the total
400,000 birr they demanded. It is to be recalled that the Commission has been on alert to act on the tips-off from the public following tips-off from some segments of the public about the presence of some corruptors in the Commission. |
|
Commission
announces 107 alleged illegal housing cooperatives ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC) - The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission
(FEACC) has announced 107 housing cooperatives it claims to be illegal. The
Commission has found these housing cooperatives illegal during a serious
scrutiny it has launched lately in Kolfe-Keraniyo, Nefas-silk Lafto,
Akaki-Kaliti, Bole, Yeka and Gullele sub-cities of the Addis Ababa City
Administration. The
housing cooperatives were organized indirect contravention of rules and
regulations set for the coordination of housing cooperatives, it was
learned. Some
civil servants in the above mentioned sub-cities were implicated in this
unscrupulous act as they were involved in organization and giving
recognition to the illegal housing cooperatives. The
number of illegal housing cooperatives could rise in due course as the
Commission was preparing to further probe into the sub-cities here in
the metropolis in connection with housing cooperatives. The Commission has already filed charges against some of the housing cooperatives while the investigation of the remaining ones was in progress. |
|
Commission
presses charges against an alleged corruptor Addis
Ababa (FEACC) - The Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission
(FEACC) said that it had pressed charges against the former General
Manager of the Marketing Department of the Akaki Metal Products Factory
on 31 December 2007for allegedly committing corruption offences. According
to the Commission, the accused has obtained six title deeds of urban
land in direct contradiction to the land leasing laws and regulations of
the Addis Ababa City Administration. He
got the title deeds one after the other by claiming that he had no
previous ownership of urban land at all, it was learned. The
FEACC asserted that the defendant deliberately committed the crime with
an intention of illegal prosperity. He also deposited over 200,000 birr, of which source was not disclosed, in different banks under his name, the Commission added. |
|
Court
Sends Corruptors to Jail Addis
Ababa (FEACC)- The Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission
(FEACC) disclosed that the First Criminal Bench of the Federal High
Court sent corruptors to jail recently for breaching trust. According
to the Commission, Yeshitila Engida and Abebe Ahmed, who were both
teachers of Mugher Community Secondary School, received five and one
years of imprisonment respectively. The
convicts were found guilty of illegally owning and using eight plasma TV
decks and their accessories, which were the properties of the school,
the FEACC said. The properties were estimated at 7, 274 USD, it was
learned. In
a related development, a customs officer and his accomplice received
three and two years of imprisonment respectively for committing
corruption, the Commission added. According
to the FEACC, Tekeste Abraham, who was a Junior Taxation Officer at the
Addis Ababa Airport, received the sentence for evading the taxation
(estimated at 79,767.91 Birr) of a print cartridge weighing 829.5 kg
on a forged receipt prepared by himself. His accomplice, Alemnesh Worku, who was engaged in transit activities, was also found guilty of issuing the cartridge in the absence of a legal property issuance receipt. |
|
UNODC
keen to extend technical assistance to FEACC ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC) - The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
expressed interest to support the efforts of the Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) in building its capacity. During talks with the
senior management of the FEACC here on 5 December 2007, UNODC officials
said their Office was ready to work in close partnership with the FEACC
in the area of capacity building, namely institutional capacity and
human resource development. According to the
Commissioner of the FEACC, H.E. Ali Sulaiman, the UNODC has pledged to
facilitate and coordinate short-and medium-term training programmes,
both at home and abroad to staff members of the FEACC. To this end, the UNODC
has agreed to send list of projects and the mechanisms of their
implementation, with the full fledged implementation of the projects to
follow, Commissioner Ali said. During the discussions, Commissioner Ali briefed the officials about the anti-corruption drive in Ethiopia, structure of anti-corruption authorities and the challenges the anti-corruption authorities were facing. |
|
Corruptor
sentenced to five years' imprisonment, fined 500 Birr ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC)-The First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court
sentenced an individual who was found guilty of embezzlement to five
years' imprisonment and fined him 500 Birr. Fikre Geze, who had
served as bill distributor at the South Branch Office with the Addis
Ababa Water and Sewage Service from 1990 E.C-1994 E.C budget years
embezzled a total of 196,846 Birr belonging to the government. The culprit failed to defend the evidence corroborated against him by the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, which had brought a charge of corruption against him back in February 1998 E.C. |
|
Corruptor
gets seven years ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC)-The First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court
on 13 November 2007 handed down a seven-year sentence to an individual
who was found guilty of fraud. Alemayehu Wolde, who was a petty casher at the Main Office of
the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, received the jail term for taking to
his benefit 34,431 Birr by increasing the wages of unskilled laborers in
the payroll through deletion and other means. In doing so, the culprit
falsified the documents of the public and the government, according to
the prosecutor of the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. He also took 280 Birr
for his personal benefit from 4,000 Birr earmarked to him for petty
expenses. Similarly, the First
Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court sentenced corruptor to five
years of imprisonment and fined him 500 Birr on 6 November 2007. Tegene Ketema, who was an employee of the South Zone Telecommunication Office with the Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation, took for his personal benefit 10,813 Birr, which he collected from customers as telephone bills. |
|
Court
sentences convict to four years of imprisonment Addis
Ababa (FEACC) - The First Criminal Bench of the Federal High
Court sentenced a defendant who was found guilty of committing
corruption to four years of imprisonment. The
Court passed the verdict on Alemayehu Qitessa on 29 October 2007 for
receiving 1000 Birr in bribe by pretending to be an investigator of the
Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEACC) and holding a fake
arrest warrant and identification card with the Commission's logo on it. The
culprit traded on a case which was under investigation by the Commission
and tried to secure illegal benefits from people on either side of the
case, it was learned. According
to the FEACC, it has been established beyond doubt that the defendant
received 1,000 Birr in bribe from people on one side of the case
promising to arrest their opponents in return, when he has no authority
to do so. The
convict also demanded 50, 000 Birr from the other side giving his fake
word that he could avoid their arrest in return, it was learned. The FEACC said that it pressed the charges against Alemayehu back in September 2006. |
|
Corruptor
receives ten years imprisonment ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC)-The Second Criminal Bench of the High Court
handed out ten years of rigorous imprisonment to corruptor on 23 October
2007. Eyob Bekele, who was Registration Desk Head with Immigration
and Nationality Affairs Main Department, received the sentence for
issuing forged pass port to Seada Nasir Hassen and demanding in retrurn
80,000 Birr. The charge brought to
him by the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC)
explains that the convict issued Seada a forged pass port under the name
of Helen Bedru Hassen, by changing her real name that had appeared in
her original pass port in the absence of any legal evidences that she
has changed her name. The convict had failed
to refute the evidences corroborated against him by the prosecutor of
the FEACC, it was learned. As a result, the court sentenced him to ten years of rigorous imprisonment and stripped him of public rights for three years. |
|
Court
sends convict to jail Addis
Ababa (FEACC)-The First Instance Bench of the Federal High Court
sentenced the Former Head of the Logistics Department of a Battalion at
the Federal Police Commission to two years of imprisonment for
committing corruption. According
to the Prosecution Department of the Commission, Abdissa Muleta was
found guilty of misappropriating logistic supplies allocated for the
Battalion. According
to Commission, the defendant withdrew 50 quintals of sugar and five
cartoons of tea from the supplies stock illegally and sold them. The
culprit withdrew the items fabricating fake requests by members of the
battalion who were legally entitled to receive the logistic supplies, it
was learned. The Commission claimed that the accused committed the crime at a time when the price of sugar sky-rocked so that he could benefit a lot from his misappropriation and embezzlement. |
|
Court sends corruptors to jail for bribery ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC)-The First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court
sentenced two defendants who were working at the Gulele Sub-city Land
Administration Department to three and two years of imprisonment for
abuse of power and fraud on 17 October 2007. Kifle Eshete, who was
formerly working in the capacity of Land Development Team Leader at the
Gulele Sub-city and Tarekegn Nurgi, who was record officer in the same
sub-city, included illegally the names of two individuals in the list of
people who were to be given plots of land in compensation following
Government's decision to give the land they were previously holding to
the Ministry of defense. The two individuals, who were illegally included in the list,
were not at all entitled to such rights, as they didn't lose any land to
the Ministry of Defense as the a result of the Government's move, the
Commission said. According to the
Commission, the convicts were caught red-handed while they were
fabricating false evidence with a deliberate intention of legalizing the
inclusion of the two individuals in the afore-mentioned list illegally.
The Culprits were to receive 140,000 Birr in return, it was learned. According to the
Commission, Kifle Eshete, the first defendant, was sentenced to three
years of rigorous imprisonment for producing fake title deeds for the
individuals with an intention of getting undue advantage in return. While Tarekegn Nurgi,
the second defendant, was sentenced to two years of imprisonment and was
fined 5,000 Birr for trying to issue counterfeit certificates and other
documents to ensure the legality of the inclusion of the names of the
two individuals in the above-mentioned list illegally. The Commission pressed charges against the perpetrators back in April 2006, it was learned. |
|
Commission
calls for concerted efforts to stamp out corruption ADDIS
ABABA-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC)
said that combating corruption and improprieties in a comprehensive
approach was of pivotal significance in the efforts to bringing about
the desired socio-economic and political transformation in the country. Opening a three-day
workshop on corruption prevention mechanisms and strategies at the Ghion
Hotel on 10 October 2007, FEACC Deputy Commissioner of the FEACC, Addisu
Mengistu, said experiences of other countries indicate that without
strict avoidance of corruption and improprieties, it is impossible to
bring about development. He also said equipping ethics officers with
principle of corruption prevention and control was vitally important in
the struggle against corruption. Addisu urged ethics officers to redouble commitment to deepen anti-corruption ethical values and put them into practice in all the institutions they were recruited from. Organized by the FEACC, the workshop was attended by 142 ethics officers from the federal and state ethics and anti-corruption commissions, public enterprises, public offices and other stakeholders. |
|
Commission
obtaining valuable information from whistle blowers ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC)
said a lot of valuable tips- off are coming from whistle blowers through
information boxes the FEACC placed at five sub-cities of the capital. The FEACC has received
more than 200 tips-off within two months alone from information boxes
placed at Kolfe-Keraniyo, Yeka, Bole, Nefas Silk-Lafto and Akaki-Kaliti
sub-cities. The FEACC has passed
decision on 60 of the tips-off it received through the information
boxes. It investigated 23 of the complaints and referred them to the
pertinent sub-cities requesting their reactions, it was learned. Conditions have been
facilitated for the Ministry of Justice, the police and the FEACC to
deal with the remaining tips-off. The FEACC has called on
the residents to continue to blow whistle through the boxes placed as
the information coming to the FEACC is indispensable to conduct
investigation on corruption offenses. Preparations are
underway to place additional information boxes at Arada, Addis Ketema,
Lideta and Kirkos sub-cities as well. The availability of the information boxes makes whistle blowing easier and more efficient, according to the FEACC. |
|
Embassy
expresses readiness to work in collaboration with Commission Addis
Ababa (FEACC) - The Embassy of the United States of America
expressed readiness to work in collaboration and partnership with the
Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEACC) on various areas
of cooperation. While
holding discussions with the Commissioner of the FEACC on 14 August
2007, Ambassador of the United States of America, Mr. Donald Yamamoto,
said that the achievements the Commission had so far been making were
encouraging. He
confirmed that the Embassy would provide the Commission with the
necessary support so that the latter could keep improving its
achievements. According
to the Ambassador, capacity building, training and crime prevention will
be the major areas of cooperation. He
also stressed the need for a strong cooperation between the Commission
and the Embassy on the extradition of corruptors who might flee their
country after looting its wealth and resources. Visa fraud was also high on the agenda during the discussion, it was learned. |
|
Anti-corruption
freezes accounts of 32 suspects ADDIS ABABA-The
bank accounts of 32 suspects have been blocked by the Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission, Berhanu Assefa, Public Relations and
Education Head of the Commission told Capital. The injunction was
imposed due to malpractice in land speculation and other corrupt
practices. Additionally, some 1.3 million birr deposited by five
individuals and 170, 321sq.mts of land located in various parts of the
capital city are under injunction. Berhanu also mentioned
that a house found on a 669 square meter has been put to the same
effect. The Commission is
investigating 15 files. Within three months of extensive investigation,
the Commission has detained 150 individuals out of whom 91 were due to
cases related to land issues.15 have been released on bail so far. The Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission was established in May 2001 and until the
year 2006, investigated a number of cases and pressed charges against
500 individuals, about 100 of whom
were sentenced from 1 to 19 years imprisonment. Corruption is a general
concept describing any organized and interdependent system in which part
of the system is either not performing duties it was originally intended
to, or performing them in an improper way, to the detriment of the
system's original purpose. A report by the African
Union estimates that corruption costs African economies in excess of
148bln dollars a year. This figure, which includes both direct and
indirect costs of corruption, i.e. resources diverted by corrupt acts
and resources withheld or deterred due to the existence of corruption,
is thought to represent 25% of Africa's GDP and increase the cost of
goods by as much as 20%. Capital newspaper 29 July 2007 |
|
Former
rental agency heads in custody ADDIS ABABA-Two
former heads of the Rental Houses Agency are in custody in an alleged
case of corruption filed by the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption
Commission, Capital learnt. Meselech Berhan, General
Manager of the former Rental Houses Agency, and Wondwosen Asfaw,
Technical and Engineering Department Head of the Agency, were arrested
last week by the federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission for
allegedly buying five lifts from Dan Technocraft in an illegal manner,
Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission's Education and Public
Relations Head, Berhanu Aseffa told Capital. The two suspects appeared before court on Thursday 12th of July, 2007, and the court granted them a bail. Berhanu claimed that the Commission is going to appeal to the court regarding the bail. According to
Berhanu, the first suspect, Meselech, was in custody for ordering the
purchase of five lifts from Dan Technocraft by breaching the purchase
procedure and presenting inadequate reasons, though cognizant of the
fact that it was incorrect.' And the second suspect,
Wondwosen Asfaw, was apprehended for not giving enough time to the
technical committee to make the correct investigation and present
findings to the bidding committee, though he was aware of the Agency's
purchasing procedures. The Commission has
completed the investigation and is to file charges. The bid was made for
the elevators that cost around 1.9 million birr. The installation of the
elevators was to be made in the Philips Building, the Sahle Sellasie
Building, the Kidane Building and the Kokeb restaurant. Capital newspaper 15 July 2007 |
|
Court
gives 3 months to 6 years prison terms to 4 convicts under Assefa
Abreha's file ADDIS
ABABA (ENA)-The Federal Supreme Court on 10 July 2007 sentenced
four of the seven convicts, including Seye Abreha, charged by the
Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) under Assefa
Abreha's lawsuit. The court gave from
three months to six years rigorous prison terms to the convicts. The Federal Supreme
Court during a trial on 10 July 2007 had passed guilty verdict and gave
three convicts, including Assefa Abreha, five to nine years prison
terms, on separate file. The court on the same
session sentenced both Seye Abreha and Meherte'ab Abreha for five years
imprisonment each and 500 birr and 1000 birr fine, respectively. The court also passed a
six-year imprisonment on another convict, Kahsay Abay whose case was
seen in absentia. The court ordered the
federal police to arrest and handover Kahsay Abay to the prison
administration. The former Prime Minister, Tamrat Layne who has been serving 18 years of imprisonment on another file sentenced for three months imprisonment on this file. |
|
Court
sends corruptors to jail ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal High Court sentenced three corruptors
to jail on 4 July 2007 for giving illegal construction and renewal
permissions to 13 residents in Kolfe-Keranyo sub city in return to 26,
400 Birr that they received in bribe. The
charge was brought to them by the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption
Commission (FEACC) back on 20 October 2007, it was learned. According
to the Prosecution Department of the FEACC, Murad Chakiso Kontano and
Bizunesh Bacha Aredu received two years of imprisonment for their role
in the afore-mentioned criminal activity. The third convict, Nesro Hussein Hassen, got one year imprisonment for brokering the above illegal activity with full knowledge that it was illegal, the FEACC said. |
|
Commission
says land administration exposed to corruption, maladministration ADDIS
ABABA (ENA)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC)
said it had confirmed through studies that the land administration at
sub-cities of the Addis Ababa City Caretaker Administration was exposed
to corruption. Speaking at a workshop
called to discuss the study conducted on the land administration in the
city on 5 July 2007, Commissioner of the Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission, H.E Ali Sulaiman, said the FEACC had been
discharging its duties and responsibilities in tackling the prevalent
corruption in the City in the area of land administration. Accordingly, the
Commission has conducted detailed studies on the land administration
systems in Yeka, Bole, Akaki-Kaliti, Kolfe-Keraniyo and Nefas Silk-Lafto
sub-cities, he said. The study was conducted
on land holding, administration, development, and leasing. According to the results
of the study, corruption offences have been widely committed in the land
leasing sector using loop holes in rules and regulations of the lease
system. Lack of coordination
among various land administration departments and limited awareness by
some employees of the land administration department towards new rules
and regulations were identified by the study as problems that aggravated
the maladministration, the Commissioner said. The Commissioner said
poor documentation system, illegal issuance of title deeds, corruption,
and capacity limitations were also among the major drawbacks identified
by the study group. Therefore, he said, the
Commission would step-up its efforts of tackling the prevailing corrupt
practices in the administration by apprehending and bringing suspects to
justice. The recommendations put
forward by the study group stressed the need for designing efficient
working system and amending the existing rules and regulations. It is also important to
adequately popularize land administration rules and regulations among
the public, it added. The
Ethiopian Herald |
|
House Endorses AU, UN
Anti-corruption Conventions ADDIS
ABABA (ENA/FEACC)-The House of Peoples' Representatives endorsed
bills on the ratification of the African Union Convention on Preventing
and Combating Corruption and the United Nations Convention Against
Corruption in its 40th Regular Session on 3 July 2007. The House endorsed the
Conventions after hearing the recommendations by Legal and
Administrative Affairs and Foreign, Defense and National Security
Standing Committees of the House. The recommendations in
the bill said the Conventions would further strengthen the on-going
anti-corruption struggle in the country. The House ratified the
Conventions with majority votes, according to the Ethiopian News Agency. It is to be recalled
that the Council of Ministers referred the Draft Conventions to the
House for ratification after discussing and approving them in its 32nd
Regular Meeting held on 30 March 2007. During the occasion, the
Council said the Conventions were especially important in providing a
framework for addressing cross-border issues related to corruption. The UN Convention
Against Corruption was adopted by the General Assembly of the United
Nations on 31 October 2003 at the UN Headquarters in New York. According
to UN sources, it entered into force on 14 December 2005. On the other hand, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption was adopted by the Heads of state at the African Union Summit held in Maputo, Mozambique, on 10 July 2003.According to the African Union sources, it entered into effect on August 2006. |
|
Commission
Raises Performance in Areas of Investigation, Prosecution Addis
Ababa (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption
Commission (FEACC) said that it had raised its performance in the areas
of corruption investigation and prosecution since the start of BPR
implementation two months ago. The FEACC attributed the
improvement in performance to paying major attention and focus to the
tips-off that whistle blowers and informants had brought to it. Since the start of the
implementation of BPR, the Commission was making quick decisions on the
tips-off it had been receiving from whistle blowers thereby improving
its performance of investigating and prosecuting corruption offences
significantly. The FEACC also ascribed
the improvements made in making achievements in the two areas to the
partnership investigators and prosecutors forged in the examination and
investigation of alleged corruption cases. After
the BPR, the Commission grouped prosecutors into two: Those responsible
for dealing with cases in courts and those in charge of examining cases
in office. Such a separation of duties and responsibilities also boosted
the efficiency of the Commission in the foregoing areas, it was learned. According
to the Commission, the introduction of new working procedures and
mechanisms that ensure transparency and accountability in the
implementation of its projects and programmes has significantly
contributed to the improvements made since recently. Most
importantly, the establishment of a new system whereby the designing and
implementation of its projects were based on the needs, interests, and
satisfaction of the general public enabled the Commission to score the
success, it was learned. The
Commission said that some 91 suspects most of whom have already been
charged for alleged involvements in corrupt activities and practices
were arrested in the last two months alone. According
to the FEACC, 60 of them were arrested for their alleged involvement in
the illegal provision and possession of land in the Addis Ababa City
Administration with the remaining 31 apprehended for committing
corruption in other areas. By
its own admission, the Commission has never managed to apprehend and
charge such a big number of suspects in such a relatively short period
of time. Two
months from the start of the implementation of the BPR, the FEACC
received 371 tips-off from whistle blowers 164 of which were found to be
related to illegal activities in the areas of land administration and
ownership in the Metropolis, it was learned. According
to the Commission, it has already been decided that 89 of the 164 cases
should be investigated right away with the remaining ones being put on
the waiting-list. The
number of tips-off the Commission received in the reported period
exceeded the total number of tips-off that the whistle blowers brought
to it in the entire third quarter of this budget year by a margin of 52,
sources disclosed. The
Commission expressed hope that the number of tips-off that it would
receive in the years to come would, no doubt, surpass expectations. The
FEACC attributed the surge in public participation in the fight against
corruption to its efficient and quick response in arresting and
prosecuting suspects that were believed to have been involved in corrupt
practices. The
Commission also disclosed that the public were tipping it off about
corrupt activities in Kolfe-keranyo, Nefas Silk-Lafto, Akaki-Kaliti,
Bole, and Yeka subcities using the boxes it positioned in those areas
for this very purpose. The FEACC said that it was determined to redouble efforts to bring corruptors to justice and urged the public to rally behind it for this noble cause. |
|
Court
sentences convict to five years of imprisonment, fines him one million
Birr ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC) - The 8th Criminal Bench of the Federal
1st Instance Court sentenced Daniel, Mekonnen, owner of the African
Jewellery, to five years of imprisonment and imposed on him one million
birr in fine on 1 June 2007. According to the Prosecution Department of the
Commission, the convict was deliberately acquitted earlier by the former
Legal Department head and prosecutor of the Ethiopian Customs Authority
and later made to stand trial through the interference of the Federal
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC). The convict received the
jail term and fine for trying to smuggle over 46 kg. gold bars out of
the country. The court in its verdict accounted that the
convict found guilty of trying to smuggle the stated precious item in
violation of the country’s laws and regulations, which state that
possession and transaction of gold bars must be carried out with full
knowledge and permission of the National Bank of Ethiopia. The court ruled that the
convict had to pay the one million birr fine in 15 days and the gold
bars to be confiscated by the government. On 9 November 2005, the
FEACC filed charge against the former Legal Department Head and the
Prosecutor of the Ethiopian Customs Authority who, in abuse of
authority, intentionally freed the convict earlier. Following the acquittal,
the convict pressed charges for the return of the gold bars claiming
that the Ethiopian Customs Authority acquitted him. The latest court
ruling has overturned his claim, the Commission said. Having reviewed the evidence corroborated against the ex-head of the Legal Department of the Customs Authority as well as the ex-prosecutor of the same Authority by the FEACC, the 1st Criminal Bench of the High Court ordered the defendants on 25 December 2006 to defend their case. |
|
UNDP
to grant over 1.2 million birr to Commission ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC) - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
is to provide over 1, 268,000 birr to the Federal Ethics and
Anti-corruption Commission (FEACC) in order to help the latter achieve
its objectives. The grant is part of the
agreement the two sides reached on 18 April 2007. The sum, which is due to
be released in June this year, will be utilized for the expansion of
ethics and anti-corruption education as well as building of the
Commission's capacity. Similarly, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Government of the Netherlands have requested the FEACC for project proposals to financially support its programmes in the coming five years through the UNDP, it was learned. |
|
Commission
arrests 50 suspects, files charges against 20 ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC) - The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission
(FEACC) has apprehended 50 suspects in various sub-cities of the Addis
Ababa City Administration in connection with illegal land provision and
other corruption offences. The FEACC has already
pressed charges against 20 of the suspects while preparation is in the
pipeline to file charges against the rest. According to the
Commission, the suspects arrested in connection with land provision are
from Kolfe Keraniyo, Bole, Yeka, Lideta and Kirkos sub-cities of the
capital. Those arrested in
connection with other corruption offences were from the Commercial Bank
of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Customs Authority, Wanji Sugar Factory and
the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency. The suspects were put
under control for allegedly granting plots of land illegally and also
allegedly substituting previously granted plots with larger and better
ones for the same lease price. Also issuing illegal
house plans and providing services to some people who are not eligible
to get those services. Other detainees were put
in custody for allegedly transferring a customer's money into one's own
account, procuring sub-standard grains as well as allowing importation
of machinery duty-free, when the importer has no right to import such a
machine duty-free. The Commission vowed to
continue cracking down on corruption in general and illegal activities
in connection with land provision and ownership in particular. The Commission has also
commended the significant contribution the different cross- sections of
the society in the afore-mentioned sub-cities have made to make its
efforts a success in cracking down on illegal activities surrounding
land provision and ownership. The FEACC has also urged residents of the metropolis to continue supporting its efforts in this regard |
|
Commissioner
reaffirms continued anti-corruption drive ADDIS
ABABA (WIC)-The Commissioner of the Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) stressed the need to intensify the
on-going anti-corruption struggle. Addressing a joint forum
of the federal and regional anti-corruption commissions kicked off in
Harar Town on 24 May 2007, Commissioner Ali Sulaiman said the
anti-corruption struggle should be stepped up to nurture a generation
that abhors corruption. Countries across the world are jointly and individually trying
to devise effective anti-corruption strategies to best struggle
corruption which has become a stumbling block for development with
devastating impacts, particularly in developing nations, Commissioner
Ali said. Mindful of the severe
consequences of corruption, the Ethiopian Government established the
Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission at the federal level six
years ago and since then it has been working relentlessly by designing
various anti-corruption strategies, the Commissioner said. Ali added that regional
ethics and anti-corruption Commissions have also been established in
five regional states with a view to fighting corruption through a
multi-stakeholder approach. Commissioner Ali
emphasized the dire need to implement Business Process Re-engineering (BPR),
which has been introduced in the civil service to ensure transparency
and accountability and improve performance in public offices and public
enterprises. The FEACC, on its part,
has finalized the reengineering process and has already started
implementing the BPR, after reviewing the core functions of the
Commission, according to the Commissioner. The regional
anti-corruption commissions should also follow suit, Ali noted. The recent move by the
Commission to crackdown on illegal landholding and construction in the
Addis Ababa City Administration would continue unabated in order to
ensure transparency and accountability, the Commissioner said. The two-day consultative forum, in addition to assessing the performance of the anti-corruption commissions, would dwell on anti-corruption strategies the country should pursue in the new Ethiopian millennium. |
|
Commission
Arrests 32 Suspects FEACC
(Addis Ababa) - The Federal Ethics and
Anti-corruption Commission (FEACC) has arrested 32 suspects in five
sub-cities of the Addis Ababa City Administration in connection with
illegal land provision and ownership. According
to the Commission, the suspects were arrested in connection with illegal
land provision and ownership in Kolfe-Keranyo, Bole, Lideta, Yeka and
Kirkos sub-cities since April 19, 2007. Chief
among the suspects were senior and line officers from the Ministry of
Defense and Police Departments, members of the business community,
engineers, lawyers, heads of land administration departments, it was
learned. According
to the Commission, the suspects were arrested for being involved in
illegal land provision and possession by flouting pertinent laws and
regulations. They
were, for example, involved in evading lease payments, providing and
receiving land without proper and relevant documents, providing illegal
house plans and committing other offences in connection with land
provision and ownership, the Commission added. The
Commission said that it finalized the investigation of all but few cases
and was due to press charges against the suspects in no time. As to the
suspects whose investigation was not finalized, the Federal High Court
remanded them in custody. The
Commission vowed to continue cracking down on illegal activities in
connection with land provision and ownership in the metropolis. The
Commission has also commended the significant contribution the different
cross- sections of the society in the afore-mentioned sub-cities have
made to make its efforts a success in cracking down on illegal
activities surrounding land provision and ownership. The FEACC has also urged residents of the metropolis to continue supporting its efforts in this regard. |
|
Court sends 13 corruptors
to jail FEACC
(Addis Ababa)- The Supreme Court of the Amhara Regional State
sent 13 corruptors to jail for embezzling the fund allocated for the Dur
Bete-Shawra Road Construction Project, which runs from Western Gojjam to
North Gondar. The convicts failed to
refute the charges brought to them by the Amhara Region Ethics and
Anti-corruption Commission, which was delegated by the Federal Ethics
and Anti-corruption Commission to prosecute the culprits. According to the Court,
seven of the 13 defendants, who were members of a committee established
to deal with matters related to the payment of compensation for
demolished houses and damaged properties upon the implementation of the
project, were all found guilty of preparing fake documents to embezzle
the fund. Chief among members the
Committee, Ashagre Sitotaw, Administrator of Achefer Woreda, Fisaha
Belachew, Engineer at the Dur Bete Municipality, and Endeshaw Mekuanint,
Team Leader of the Disaster Prevention and Food Security Office with the
Achefer Woreda, were all sentenced for four years of imprisonment. According to the Court,
the remaining six defendants were accused of receiving a total of 170,
424 Birr in fake compensation from the Dangla Branch of the Commercial
Bank of Ethiopia, when they have no houses demolished or properties
damaged during the implementation of the project. Accordingly, the court
sentenced the defendants in the latter group for one year and two months
of imprisonment, which they have already served. Law enforcement
authorities were able to prevent the withdrawal of 163,402 Birr from the
same Bank in a similar fashion, it was learned. The Ethics and
Anti-corruption Commission of the Amhara Regional State has appealed to
a pertinent judicial body for a more severe punishment of the convicts,
it was learned. |
Commission arrests five
suspects in connection with illegal land provision
ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC)
apprehended five suspects from Kolfe-Keraniyo sub-city in connection
with illegal land provision on19 April 2007. The
Commission arrested three suspects working in land administration
department of the sub-city and two other individuals suspected of
benefiting from the illicit land provision. The
suspects that appeared before the First Criminal Bench of the Federal
High Court on 20 April 2007 were remanded in custody until investigation
is finalized. The
charges will be brought against the suspects upon the finalization of
the investigation, it was learned. This
latest move by the Commission is part of the pledge it had made earlier
to bring before the law individuals implicated in the illegal land
provision in Yeka, Bole, Akaki-Kaliti, Nefas Silk-Lafto and
Kolfe-Keraniyo sub-cities here in the capital. The
Commission said it would redouble efforts to investigate the cases in
connection with illicit land provision in other sub-cities and bring the
suspects before the law. Those
employees and individuals involved in the illegal land
provision would face the consequences, the Commission added. The
Commission thus warned individuals to refrain from joining illegal
associations and paying membership fees since such actions are illegal. Land
secured through illegal means will be confiscated and the offenders will
be brought to justice, according to the Commission. The
Commission said it was doing its level best to put in place efficient
work procedures in order to overcome problems posed in connection with
land administration in the Metropolis. The Commission reiterated that it has been doing everything in its capacity to investigate the cases in connection with illicit land provision and urged the public to rally behind it.. |
|
Ex-judge
receives six years of rigorous imprisonment for bribery Addis
Ababa (FEACC) - The
First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court sentenced former
municipal judge of the Kirkos Sub-city, Tegegn Shiferaw, to six years of
rigorous imprisonment and fined him 1000 Birr for bribery. In
the verdict it gave on February 26, 2007, the Court found the accused
guilty of receiving 2000 Birr in bribe from a certain Yeshiwork
Agignchew in exchange for speeding up the rectification of her marriage
certificate. The Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEACC |
Former judge receives 8 years
of rigorous imprisonment for bribery
ADDIS
ABABA (FEACC) - Shumalem Getachew,a judge who was working at the 12th Criminal
Bench of the High Court was sentenced to eight years of rigorous
imprisonment and fined 2,000 birr. The convict received the
jail term and fine for having been caught red handed while receiving
7,000 birr (seven thousand) in bribes from a certain Jafar Berehane on
26 January 2006. The First Criminal Bench
of the Federal High Court passed the verdict on 14 February 2007 after
the convict failed to refute the evidence corroborated against him by
the Prosecution of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEACC). The FEACC pressed the charge against the convict on 14 February 2006, it was learned. |
|
Guilty
verdict passed on 23 corruption charges ADDIS ABABA (ENA)-The
Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission said that guilty verdict
was passed on 23 charges it filed against those already involved in
corruption. Ethics Education and Public Relations Department
Director, Kifle Yeshitila told the Ethiopian News Agency that the
Commission has also received tips of corruption including evidences
numbering 685 over the last six months of the current Ethiopian budget
year of which 598 fall under its jurisdiction. The Commission has also begun probing into 128 new
cases of corruption of which 19 cases were referred to the prosecutor,
he said. Kifle said the Commission has been conducting
periodic study on working procedures and practices of the Ethiopian
Customs Authority, Electric Power Corporation and the Ethiopian
Telecommunication Corporation. During the reported period, the Commission offered ethics and anti-corruption education to more than 9450 people, including students of higher learning institutions, employees of service rendering institutions in the metropolis as well as employees and inmates in prisons under the federal government, he said. |
Commission
arrests individuals for allegedly accepting bribes
ADDIS ABABA (FEACC)-The Corruption
Investigation Department of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption
Commission caught red-handed two auditors at the Revenue Department of
the Kirkos sub-city in the capital receiving 10,000 birr in bribes on 11
December 2006. The individuals demanded a tax payer, who appeared at the Department to
pay income and profit taxes of 1997 E.C, to pay them 30,000 birr in
bribes so that they could reduce the tax the person owed to the
government, which they said was a significant amount. The taxpayer agreed to give them 10,000 birr and promised to pay the
remaining 20,000 birr after completion of the work. The suspects were caught red-handed while receiving the 10,000 birr at a
hotel they met around an area locally called Megenagna on 11 December
2006. In the process of investigation, auditors confirmed that the taxpayer in fact owed the government not more than 11,000 birr, it was learned. |
|
Court
sentences corruptors to 6-8 years of imprisonment Addis
Ababa (FEACC) - The First Criminal Bench of the Federal High
Court sentenced seven corruptors to 6-8 years of imprisonment and fined
them 2000-4000 Birr in a trial held on 24 November 2006. The
convicts listed from 1-6 under Ahmed Idris’s file received six years
of jail term and were fined 2000 Birr with the seventh convict receiving
eight years of imprisonment and a fine of 4000 Birr. The
Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEACC) had filed the
charges against the convicts for allegedly stealing spare parts of
vehicles belonging to the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency
and estimated at over 67,000 Birr. The
convicts listed from 1-6, who were then serving as guards at the Agency,
conspired with the seventh convict and stole the spare parts on 2
September 2006, it was learned. They
then allowed the other accomplice, the seventh convict, to drive a
vehicle belonging to the Finance and Economic Development Office of the
Arada Sub-City into the Agency’s compound and take the spare parts
away, it was reported. The
Court passed the verdict after the convicts failed to refute the
evidence corroborated against them by the Prosecutor of the FEACC. |
|
Eight
corruption convicts jailed ADDIS
ABABA (ENA):- The Second Criminal Bench of the Federal High
Court, on 17 November 2006, sentenced
eight convicts of corruption to prison terms ranging from six to 14
years. It also imposed fines on them. Accordingly,
the Bench sentenced convicts Tilahun Mulugeta, Fistum Gebre - Egziabher
and Shawl Aychluhim to 14 years of rigorous imprisonments and imposed a
fine of 2000 birr on each. A
six -year jail terms were given to Captain Zenabu Aydeur, Corporal
Tibebu Kassa, Second Inspector Wubet Asemahegn, Chief Sergeant Alem
Abreha and Second Corporal Kindeya Haddush. Each of these five convicts
is also fined 1000 birr. Tilahun
Mulugeta, Fitsum Gebre Egziabher and Shawl Aychluhim were jailed each to
14 years and made to pay the stated amount in fines for having
instigated, instructed and coordinated the plot. The
prosecutor of the Federal Ethics and Anti - Corruption Commission had
filed the charges against the forenamed convicts for having taken
300,000 birr from their victim, Kebede Feysa whom they intimidated
dubbing him member of OLF. The convicts squeezed the stated amount out of Kebede, from whom they demanded three million birr after they intercepted him while he was driving to his private office in the morning of the 4th Ginbot (May) in 1995 E.C. |
|
Court sentences defendant to 12 years of
imprisonment, fines him 30, 000 Birr Addis
Ababa (FEACC)- The Federal High Court sentenced a defendant to 12
years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him 30, 000 Birr on November
15, 2006 for a charge of betrayal of trust brought to him by the
Prosecution Department of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption
Commission on October 11, 2005. According
to the Commission, Mengistu Shiferaw, a storekeeper at the
Agricultural Equipment and Technological Services Share Company,
couldn’t account for the 499, 652 Birr worth herbicide which went
missing while he is in charge. The
Commission urged the public to expose such corrupt practices in a
sustainable manner. |
|
Court
convicts eight individuals on corruption charge ADDIS ABABA (ENA)- The Federal High Court has convicted eight
individuals accused by the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption
Commission’s prosecutor for having squeezed money out of a man named
Kebede Baysa, who they dubbed as member of OLF (an outlawed political
entity), and whom they intimidated once again to receive more money
from. The 1st Criminal
Bench found the eight individuals guilty of one or both of the two
counts of the corruption charge at its hearing on 10 November 2006. Accordingly, Captain Zenabu
Ayder and Corporal Tibebe Kassa were found guilty of committing the
crime indicated by the 1st count; Second Inspector Wubishet
Asemahegn, Chief Inspector Alem Abreha and Second Corporal Kindeya
Haddush found guilty of commiting the crime indicated by the 2nd
count. Tilahun Mulugeta, Fitsum Gebre-Egziabher and Shawl Aychluhm were
convicted in both the counts. The
first count of the charge relates that the convicts had dragged their
victim at gun point and made him sign a 300,000 Birr cheque, which they
later withdrew from the Awash Bank. The second count relates that the
convicts had entered their target’s residence with a faked court
warrant. It
is stated in the charge file that, with Corporal Kindeya Haddush on a
lookout outside, and Second Inspector Wubishet and Chief Inspector Alem
inside Kebede’s house and about to take money from him by force-all
three were caught red-handed. The hearing was adjourned until November 17 to pass sentence on the corruption convicts. |
|
Court
sentences defendant to 5 years of imprisonment, fines
him 2000 Birr Addis
Ababa (FEACC) - The Federal High Court sentenced a member of the
Federal Police to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him 2000
Birr on December 10, 2006 for charges of bribery brought against him by
the Prosecution Department of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption
Commission back on March 19, 2004. According
to the Commission, Deputy Inspector Mekuria Yitbarek, Crime Investigator
at the Crime Investigation Bureau of the Federal Police, received 10,
000 Birr in Bribe on January 13, 2005 from a certain Tsehai Mesfin,
resident of the Gullelie sub-city in the Addis Ababa City
Administration, by promising to avoid her detention for sponsoring a
fictitious murder of a certain Gabrila Figa. The
offender was arrested based on the information that the victim brought
to the Commission, it was learned. The
convict reportedly promised to pass on the money to his bosses so that
Tsehai would not be detained. The Commission urged the general public to continue to expose such corrupt practices so that the offenders could not get away with their criminal acts. |
|
Bank
Teller Receives Jail Term, Fine The Federal High Court
sentenced a bank teller to six years of rigorous imprisonment and fined
him 2000 birr on November 3, 2006 for being found guilty of serious
fraud and forgery crimes, charges brought against him by the Prosecution
Department of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEAC)
back in 2004. Yisak Hassen, who
was a teller at the Gullele Branch of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia,
received the penalty for paying 41, 000 Birr to a certain Melaku
Gizzaw (who has been missing since the arrest of his accomplice) by
signing a local money transfer form himself. The convict reportedly
imitated the signature of pertinent authorities and signed the document
so that his partner in the crime could withdraw the money. According to the FEAC,
the teller paid the money by creating a fake situation wherein the money
was sent to Melaku from the Dufti Branch of the Commercial Bank of
Ethiopia, which was not the case. The FEAC vowed to redouble efforts to make sure that such criminals will not get away with their criminal acts and urged the public to rally behind it in fighting such offences. |
|
Corruptors receive jail terms, fine Addis Ababa (FEAC) - The
Federal High Court sentenced two defendants to three years and six
months of rigorous imprisonment and fined them 2000 birr each on October
22, 2006 for committing a corruption offence. Hilmneh Tesfaw,
customers’ relation officer with the Ethiopian Airlines and resident
of Addis, and Mohammed Juhar, senior transportation agent with
the same organization and resident of the same city were charged with
extortion in August 2004. According to the
Prosecution Department of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption
Commission (FEAC), the two defendants received the jail terms and the
fine for illegally facilitating the flight of two people through a
forged passport under pseudonyms Alemayehu Gizaw and Selam
Assefa. The Commission
substantiated the case sufficiently and the court gave its verdict in
its favour, it was learned. Despite the illegal efforts of the convicts, the passengers were arrested before they leave for London, the Commission added. |
|
Corruptors
receive jail terms, fine ADDIS
ABABA (ENA)-The Federal High Court on 12 October 2006 sentenced
four individuals charged with corruption offences to 4-8 years of
rigorous imprisonment and fined them up to 10,000 birr. The
First Criminal Bench sentenced Shimeles Abebe to eight years of
rigorous imprisonment and fined him 10,000 birr while Belayneh
Workneh received four years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of
2,000 birr Tezazu Tadesse, whose case was handled in absentia and treated
under Shimeles Abebe’s file, received six years of rigorous
imprisonment and 10,000 birr fine while Zenash Meshesha was
sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment and was fined 2,000
birr. The court passed the verdict against Shimeles Abebe for illegally
transferring over half a million birr belonging to other customers into
accounts of the above-mentioned convicts while he was working as
computer operator of customers’ deposit account at Akaki Branch of the
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. Tezazu, Zenash and Belayneh received the jail term and the fine for
withdrawing and using 445460, 26678 and 26000 Birr respectively, knowing
that the sum did not belong to them but illegally transferred to their
accounts by Shimeles. Though the court had allowed the convicts to defend themselves, they
failed to do so while Prosecutors of the Federal Ethics and
Anti-corruption Commission, who pressed the charges against them,
substantiated their cases sufficiently, the court said in its verdict. According to the amended Criminal Code, such offences are punishable by up to ten years of rigorous imprisonment and liable to fine, the court said. |
|
Ethiopia, China
exploring ways of consolidating anti-corruption cooperation ADDIS
ABABA (WIC)-Ethiopia and China expressed commitment to further
cooperate in the drive against corruption and share experiences, Xinhua
news agency reported. Gu Xiulian, Vice
Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s
Congress (NPC), who met the Ethiopian Ethics and Anti-corruption
Commission delegation in Beijing on September 4, 2006 said her country
is willing to carry out anti-corruption exchanges and cooperation with
other countries, regions and international organizations on the basis of
equality and mutual respect, according to the news agency. Gu added that the
Chinese government is committed to social development, social fairness
and justice and so had devoted significant resources to the fight
against corruption. Ethiopian delegation
leader, Commissioner Ali Sulaiman, on his part commended the efforts
made and the achievements registered by the Chinese government in this
field. He hoped the two sides would be able to further cooperate on
anti-corruption endeavors and learn from each other. The delegation is paying a working visit to China with the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of Supervision, it was learnt. |
|
Commission
Arrests Suspect Addis
Ababa (FEAC) - The Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission
(FEAC) arrested a suspect who has allegedly been accused of cheating
through a false identity. According to the
Department of Investigation of the FEAC, the suspect, who was a resident
of the Alemgena Town, persuaded members of a family, who reportedly have
had dispute over land ownership, to give him a
sum of money so that he could do them a favour in connection with the
their case. In fact, the case had
already been brought to the attention of the Commission and was under
investigation, the Department said. The accused, who had a
forged identification card as the Commission’s investigator, was
alleged to have had an arrest warrant of the defendants in his
possession allowing him to threaten and force them to give him 40, 000
Birr as bribe to avoid their arrest in exchange for the money. Had he not been
arrested, the suspect, who had already received 1000 Birr of the stated
sum, were to collect the balance later. He was also reputed to
be making preparations to hammer out a deal with the plaintiffs to
receive a big chunk of money in exchange for a quick arrest of the
defendants, the Department disclosed. “It was amid such illegal transactions that the Commission was informed of the case prompting it to arrest the suspect in cooperation with the local community,” the Department said. “When the
investigators moved to arrest the suspect at the ‘Mexico Square’,
the latter tried to escape before he was apprehended with the help of
the local community,” it added. “The forged documents
that the accused was using to meet his illegal purposes are now in the
hands of the Commission,” it was learned. The suspect was remanded
in custody by the court until further evidence was gathered and
additional investigation made. The FEAC has
interrogated the suspect following his arrest and has been gathering
additional information about the case, it was learned. Once the Commission
finalizes gathering the necessary information about the case, it will
immediately file charges against the suspect, the Department disclosed. The FEAC urged the
Ethiopian public to report such cases to the Commission with a sense of
urgency and responsibility so that the latter can deal with them before
they cause some damage and harm. The Commission, which stressed the vital importance of public participation in the fight against corruption and impropriety, also called on the latter to continue to participate in the crusade against it with more vigour and determination. |
|
Commission
to press charges against 565 cases ADDIS ABABA (WIC) - The
Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEAC) has disclosed it
would press charges against 565 cases in the current Ethiopian fiscal
year. In an interview with
Walta Information Center, Commissioner of the FEAC, Ali Sulaiman, said
the Commission would file charges against 210 allegedly serious
corruption offences and 355 petty ones in the current fiscal year. Efforts would be
deployed to secure the ruling and conviction of 110 cases that were
brought before the court in the previous fiscal year, he added. Commissioner Ali said
boosting execution capacity, expanding ethics and anti-corruption
education, preventing corruption and impropriety, investigating and
prosecuting alleged corruption offences were the major focus areas in
the period reported. The Commission
accomplished over 75 percent of its plan in the previous fiscal year,
the Commissioner said. He said the public have
now realized that the Commission was indeed in the vanguard of the
anti-corruption campaign. The public are increasingly showing high interest and willingness in blowing the whistle on corruption with a sense of ownership and responsibility, he said. The Commission has set
to offer ethics and anti-corruption orientation to 25,500 students who
are due to be graduated in the current fiscal year from three
universities, according to the Commissioner. The Commission would
enhance its relations with stakeholders, whose contribution is vital to
the ongoing anti-corruption campaign, he said. The Commission would
continue to examine the working procedures of public offices and
enterprises and put forward recommendations and corrective measures with
much fervor in a bid to correct procedures prone to corruption and
impropriety, Commissioner Ali said. The Commission has plans
to receive and handle about one thousand tips-off during the current
fiscal year, he said, adding that the Commission will try to pass
decisions on tips-off on daily basis. In view of the growing
complexity and subtlety of corruption offences, it is imperative to
equip the Commission with state-of –the art technology, he said. Commissioner Ali, however, noted that the budget
earmarked to the Commission was not commensurate with the scope of its
activities. The Commissioner called on the public to champion
the cause of the Commission for the success of the on-going crusade
against corruption. The budget allocated to the Commission for the current fiscal year was over 11.5 million birr, Commissioner Ali said. |
|
Commission charges official with extortion ADDIS
ABABA (FEAC)-The Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption
Commission (FEAC) charged
manager of the Federal Inland Revenue Authority in the Amhara Regional
State, Mesfin Tekle Woldemariam and his accomplice Tizebt Tekle
Woldemariam on July 27, 2006 for allegedly receiving a sum amounting to
750,000 (seven hundred fifty thousand) birr through extortion from a
private company. Mesfin was charged for allegedly taking the sum in
order to slim the over 2.2 million sales tax, which was levied on DAS
PLC, Gondar-based private company, down to 2085 (two thousand eighty
five) birr. According to the prosecutor of the Commission, the
government has lost over 2.2 million birr because of the tax evasion. Tizebt, who is the sister of Mesfin, was implicated
in the extortion by receiving the sum and documents from owners of DAS
PLC and handing over them to her brother and other accomplices. The Commission brought the charge of extortion against the suspects after owners of the PLC tipped off the Commission about the case having realized that their action was unscrupulous.. |
|
Court sentences corrupt individuals ADDIS ABABA (ENA)-Two individuals convicted of corruption charges as filed against them by the prosecution of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission were sentenced to five and three years’ imprisonment. The corruption convicts were sentenced to the rigorous imprisonment on Monday, June 19, 2006 by the ruling of the First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court. The individuals had been found guilty of corruption they committed while serving as officials with the Ethiopian Social Rehabilitation and Development Fund’s Gambella office, the Commission told the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) on June 20, 2006. One of the convicts who goes by the name Okok Ojulu sold out 15,003 corrugated iron sheets of 28 gauge to various contractors and workers during his office as general Manager of the ESRDF Gambella office for a period of three years, the Commission said. The other convict, Adamu Abiy was charged of taking per diems by faking field trip outings while he was head of the Social Infrastructure Department with the office, it said. The Bench in a trial on June 19, 2006 gave the convicts the prison terms after the prosecution charges had been corroborated with evidences while the convicts had failed to defend their cases. The Bench also put a fine amounting to 2,000 birr on the first defendant who gets five years in jail, while the second defendant gets three years in jail. |
Commission avails free hotline
for receiving tips-off
ADDIS ABABA (ENA)-The
Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEAC) has made available
free hotline to encourage the public to provide tips-off on corrupt
activities to the Commission. The availability of the hotline would have
paramount importance to the Commission in fighting corruption, Principal
Public Relations Advisor with the Commission, Berhanu Aseffa said on
June 10 2006. The hotline has been made available to the public
as of June 7 2006, he said, adding, any one who is willing to provide
tips-off on corrupt practices and improprieties can communicate with the
Commission by calling 994, for free. He said the public have been contributing a lot
towards fighting corruption and exposing corrupt individuals and groups. The hotline would scale up the ongoing national
efforts geared towards containing corruption, Berhanu said. The hotline remains open every day during office hours, he said, adding that, the Commission would receive tips-off even out of the office hours in the future if the need arises. |
Court orders two
suspects to stay in prison
Addis
Ababa (FEAC) :- First
Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court on May 8, 2006 ordered the
Former General Manager of the State-owned Development Bank of Ethiopia,
Moges Chemere and the General Manager of Wegagen Bank, Kidane Nikodimos
to remain in prison until the prosecutor presses charges against them. The two
suspects were arrested in connection with allegedly illegal credit
guarantee bond contract signed between the two banks to open a standby
letter of credit amounting to 6 million 645 thousand USD on behalf of
U.S. based company named Addis Industrial PLC. The
court made the order after the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption
Commission (FEAC) declared that it had finalized the investigation and
submitted the file to the prosecutor. According to the Ethiopian Criminal Procedure Code, the prosecutor is due to press files against the suspects until May 23, 2006. |
|
Commission
Arrests Suspects Addis Ababa (FEAC)-
The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEAC) arrested the
General Manager of the Wegagen Bank, Kidane Nikodimos and Former General
Manager of the State-owned Development Bank of Ethiopia, Moges Chemere,
on April 7, 2006, on suspicion that they have committed corruption
offence. The two suspects were
arrested in connection with an allegedly illegal credit guarantee bond
contract signed between the two banks to open a standby letter of credit
amounting to 6 million 645 thousand USD on behalf of a certain company
(Addis Industrial PLC). According to the
Prosecution Department of the Commission, Moges was arrested for issuing
(illegally) a written undertaking to Addis Industrial PLC giving a
guarantee and confirmation that the latter could open a letter of credit
at the Wegagen Bank to import machineries from an American Company
called 'Almi Corporation'. Almi Corporation is
owned by two Ethiopian brothers, Mulugeta Guadie and Hailemichcael
Guadie, it was learnt. The second suspect,
Kidane Nikodimos, on his part, was arrested for agreeing to allow the
Development Bank of Ethiopia (on behalf Addis Industrial PLC) to open
the standby letter of credit at the Wegagen Bank, sources said. According to the
sources, the agreement was signed in violation of the National Bank’s
Directive No FXD /07/98. The Federal High Court suspended the implementation of the agreements, it was learnt. |
Commission Presses Charges against Alleged
Corruptors
Addis
Ababa (FEAC)- The Prosecution Department of the Federal
Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission pressed charges against four
suspects, who were allegedly caught red-handed exporting stolen cables
to Djibouti. The Department pressed the charges
against two Indians, a Nepalese and an Ethiopian. In the charges of corruption it
brought to the Federal High Court against the defendants on March 5,
2006, the Department asserted that the accused were exporting expensive
cables, which were the properties of the Ethiopian Telecommunications
and Electric Light Corporations, using packs of pieces of metal rods as
a camouflage. According to some sources, the two
corporations procured the cables for a huge sum of foreign currency. Nibretu Yigzaw, an employee of the
Customs Authority, was reportedly accused of giving a safe passage for
the truck carrying the stolen cables without searching it. The remaining three defendants were allegedly caught red-handed transporting the stolen cables to Djibouti, as the first defendant gave them the safe passage illegally. |
|
Court Sentences
Corruptor to Seven Years of Rigorous Imprisonment Addis
Ababa (ENA)-The Federal High Court sentenced a former employee of the
Ministry of Water Resources to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and
fined him 4000 birr on March 27, 2006 for committing corruption offence. According
to the Ethiopian News Agency, the Court passed the verdict on Taddesse
Kumma for forging two bank cheques in February, 2004 by putting an
imitated signature on them to embezzle 36,425 birr of his employer’s
money. The Court gave the verdict in favour of the Prosecution Department of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission, which filed the charge against the convict. |
|
Court Orders Defendants to Defend
themselves Addis Ababa (ENA)-The
Federal High Court has ordered eight of the 20 defendants to defend
themselves from the charges pressed against them for allegedly
committing corruption offences while they were employees of the
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia holding different posts. In the order it gave on
March 24, 2006, the Court told the defendants, namely Tilahun Abay,
Hailu Legesse, Habteselassie Hagos, Mulugeta Gebremedihin and Girma
Negash to defend themselves from the substantiated accusations filed
against them by the Prosecution Department of the Federal Ethics and
Anti-corruption Commission. Kidane Wolde, Bayssa
Gemeda and Gondere Ayana have also been given the same order in their
absence, the Ethiopian News Agency reported. On the contrary, Alazar
Dessie, Abraham Aregawi, Alemayehu Hailemichael, Kelem work Berhane,
Jemal Mussa, Zalash woin Assefa, Tilahun Taye and Solomon Asfaw, who
have all been charged with committing similar offences, have been told
by the court that they were free of only the charges pressed against
them under the file of the first group. The Court also set free
Ato Temesgen Mahari, a client of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, for
there wasn't any supportive evidence to substantiate the charge pressed
against him. The businessman was
reportedly accused of borrowing money from the Bank quite a number of
times (on the same business license) knowing the fact that it was
against the rules and regulations of the latter to do so. However, there wasn't any supportive evidence that he did what he did with the knowledge that it was illegal, the Court said. |
Court Denies Bail to Defendants, Sends them to JailAddis Ababa (FEAC)-The
Federal High Court denied bail to five alleged corruptors, who were
charged with dispatching telephone and electric cables overseas, and
sent them to jail until their trial. The Court passed the verdict on March 20, 2006, on two
Indians, a Nepalese and two Ethiopians for illegally dispatching the
cables using packs of pieces of metal rods as a camouflage. However, the Court noted
that the defendants could appeal for bail once files have been pressed
against them. The defendants packed
the cables in two containers, loaded them on a heavy truck and tried to
transport it to Djibouti, sources said. However, the stolen
cables, which were the properties of the Ethiopian Telecommunications
and the Ethiopian Electric Light Corporations, were spotted in Afar
Region by customs authorities on its way to Djibouti. Then, the case was
brought to the attention of the Prosecution Department of the Federal
Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission, which has been making
preparations to press charges against the suspected defendants. According to sources close to the Corporations, the cables have reportedly been procured for a huge sum of foreign currency. |
|
Court
Sentences two Corruptors to six Years of Rigorous Imprisonment Addis
Ababa (FEAC) - The Federal High Court sentences two employees of the
Ethiopian Airlines to six years of rigorous imprisonment and fined them
500 birr each. The
Court ruled in favour of the Prosecution Department of the Federal
Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission by sentencing Girma Abera and
Dawit Zewdie, Who were members of the Ethiopian Airlines staff, to six
years of imprisonment. According
to the Prosecution Department of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption
Commission, the defendants received the verdict for stealing three cell
phone apparatuses and a battery charger from a traveler's package. The
two loaders stole the apparatuses and the charger by rending the package
apart illegally, it was learnt. The
Department of Prosecution of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption
Commission, which brought the corruptors to court on June 24, 2005, has
been following up the case since then. |
|
Court Sentences three Corruptors to Rigorous Imprisonment Addis
Ababa (FEAC)-The Federal High Court sentences three corruptors to 2-8
years of rigorous imprisonment and fined them a total of 10, 000 birr on
February 27, 2006 for committing corruption offence. According
to the Prosecution Department of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption
Commission, the Court passed the verdict on two employees of the
Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation and one businessman. A
technician for customers’ telephone lines, Hailemichael Haregewoin,
and the Corporation’s driver, Elyias Abdushikur were found guilty of
stealing 118, 850 meter cable which they sold to a businessman, Sefa
Abdurehiman. The
price of the cable was estimated at 84, 383 birr, it was learnt. The
court has, therefore, sentenced Hailemichael to 8 years of rigorous
imprisonment and fined him 5, 000 birr with the second defendant
receiving 7 years of rigorous imprisonment and 3,000 birr in financial
penalty. The third defendant, who was accused of deliberately hiding the stolen cable and purchasing it illegally, was sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment and penalized 2,000 birr. |
|
Bank
Teller Receives Ten Years of Rigorous Imprisonment Addis Ababa (FEAC) - The
Federal High Court sentenced a bank teller at the ‘Arat killo’
Branch of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia to ten years of rigorous
imprisonment and fined him 10,000 birr for committing corruption
offence. The First Instance Court
passed the verdict on Beyene Mekonnen on January 26, 2006 for stealing
100,000 birr from the bank, at which he was working as a teller, through
forgery. According to the Court,
the prosecutor of the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission, who
pressed the charge against the defendant, has presented sufficient
evidence to support and substantiate the case. According to the new Criminal Law, committing such an offence, which is a mix of fraud and betrayal of trust, is punishable by rigorous imprisonment ranging from 5-25 years. In addition to that, the offenders are fined a maximum of 100,000 birr. |