(Other suspects are on the list)
ADDIS ABABA- Former Communication Minster, Bereket Simon as well as, CEO of TIRET Corporate Tadesse Kassa were detained for alleged corruption and embezzlement of TIRET corporate. Amhara Regional State AntiCorruption Commissioner Zigale Gebeyehu said that the suspects are detained in collaboration of Amhara State police, Addis Ababa Police Commission and Federal Police.
Zigale Gebeyehu, also confirmed that Bereket and Tadesse are now held in police custody in Bahir Dar city, the capital of the state. The Commission has indicated that it has sufficient information at hand to sue suspects. According to the Commission, the suspects were detained as the finding of financial audit conducted on five to seven companies confirmed that there were financial embezzlement and violation of procedure.
Financial audit is also being conducted on the remaining two companies, Commissioner noted. Sources indicated that there are other individuals who will be detained in relation to TIRET embezzlement. Bereket Simon is a founding member of the ruling coalition, the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, EPRDF. Following a thorough investigation, Both Bereket Simon and Tadesse are ousted form their party, Amhara Democratic Party, last August.
Bereket resigned his position in government in October 2017 at the time as an adviser in charge of Policy Studies and Research to ex Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been pursuing a nationwide crackdown on graft in the public sector since taking office last year. Earlier this month, Ethiopia charged the former head of the military-run industrial conglomerate METEC and other officials with corruption
Herald January 27/2019
BY STAFF REPORTER
