Police arrests Melaku Fanta, his deputy, 11 others suspected in Corruption

Ethiopian police has arrested  thirteen individuals suspected in involving in corruption, according to the press statement from the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission.

Melaku Fanta, Director General of the Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority with the rank of a Minister is among the detainees. His deputy, Gebrewahed Woldegiorgis is also put in custody.

 Lists of other suspects put under custody are:

1. Eshetu Woldesemayat, Director of Legal issues in Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority

2. Asmelash Woldemariam, Head of Kality Customs


3. Tiruneh Berta, Confiscated properties team coordinator in Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority

4. Amigne Tagele, Head of Adama Customs

5. Mulugeta Gashaw, Engineer in Oromia Special Zone

6. Ketema Kebede, Owner of the KK Trading

7. Simachew Kebede, Owner of the Intercontinental Hotel

8. Mihretab Abreha, Investor

11. Nega Gebre Egziabeher, Owner of Netsa Trading PLC

12. Zerihun Zewdie, broker

13. Marshet Tesfu, broker

The statement from the FEAC said the Commission in cooperation with the National Intelligence Service has been following the case based on tips from the public and have gathered enough evidences on those suspects.

It is to be recalled Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn recently called the public to provide him tips on corrupted officials.

In a related development police has searched the houses of those arrested suspects after getting a search warrant from a court. Police said it has found huge amount of money, several title deeds, electronics equipment and other related documents with the case in hand. The search was made in the presence of the suspects and other observers, police said.

Accordingly, 200 thousand Birr in cash, 26 thousand Euro, Pound and notes of other countries as well as title deeds in Lagedadi Lagetafo area are obtained from the house of Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority Gebrewahed Woldegiorgis.

One million 947 thousand 675 Birr was found in cash from the house of suspect Asmelash Woldemariam who had been working at various levels in Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority and resigned a year ago.

Police told ERTA that the arrest and search followed a legal procedure and was successful, adding that it will let the public know the result of the investigation.

Police also called on the public to strengthen its fight against corruption.

In a latest development, police said on Sunday it has put in custody Cornel Haimanot Tesfay, wife of Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority Gebrewahed Woldegiorgis, while she was trying to hide documents related to the corruption case her husband was suspected to involve in.

Police told ERTA that Cornel Haimanot was trying to hide in other places and individuals’ hand house and land title deeds registered by the name of her husband Gebrewahed Woldegiorgis.

Police has followed the case based on tips from the public after which it found the title deeds from other individuals’ houses, it said.