News: Fed. Court passes guilty verdict against senior clergyman, others in fraudulent attempt to withdraw over US$6M from AU account
Clergyman Belay Mekonnen, the main suspect. Photo: Screenshot
Addis Abeba – A federal court in Addis Abeba passed guilty verdict against Kesis Belay Mekonnen, a senior clergyman from the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church (EOTC) and other individuals accused of committing a financial fraud by attempting to withdraw more than US$6 million from the African Union (AU) account.
On 15 April last year, the AU admitted that, “…a series of Payment Transfer Orders were submitted to the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, at their Branch located within the African Union Headquarters, in Addis Abeba. The Payment Transfer Orders were submitted by an individual who is not an employee of the African Union. These orders designated substantial funds to various recipients under the premise of construction and water drilling works, amounting to over US Dollars 6 million.”
The accused were appearing at the Federal High Court, Lideta Division, 3rd Criminal Bench, which has been reviewing the fraudulent evidences submitted by federal prosecutors.
During today’s hearing the court issued a guilty verdict under the relevant provisions of the Criminal Code, according to state media.
The main suspect, Kesis Belay Mekonnen, who was the deputy general manager at the EOTC Patriarchate during his arrest, was accused along with others of attempting a fraudulent withdrawal of the money in a “coordinated and organized criminal act” according to the city police, which called the attempt an “act that tarnishes our good relations with African countries.”
The Ministry of Justice’s Directorate for Corruption Cases stated that the accused, Kesis Belay Mekonnen, along with Eyasu Endale, an agricultural investor, Bereket Mulatu & Alemgena Samuel, both commission agents, as well as, Abera Merga, manager of Nimona Trading Business Enterprise, violating various articles of the Criminal Code dealing with the prevention of corruption offenses when they reportedly prepared and submitted a fraudulent payment document to the bank through the first defendant, Kesis Belay Mekonnen, without any legitimate payment order from the African Union.
The charges were filed primarily against the first to third defendants, while the cases against the fourth and fifth defendants were temporarily dismissed due to their unavailability at their addresses and repeated failure to appear in court.
The defendants denied the allegations and pleaded their innocence. However, after reviewing witness testimonies and related material evidence, the court issued the guilty verdict against the accused for the alleged fraud.
The court adjourned the sentencing hearing for 30 January. The prosecutors have earlier hinted that the suspects could face up to 10 years prison term. AS
