Thursday, January 19, 2006

Court Acquits Gullele Soap Factory Owner

allAfrica/The Daily Monitor -- The Federal High Court on January 4th acquitted businessman Fitsum Zeab Asgedom - also publisher of The Daily Monitor- and two Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), officials of corruption charges.

The prosecutor of the Federal Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (FEACC), four years ago charged five CBE senior managers including Ato Alazar Dessie-- an American citizen-- for allegedly approving a 100% finance, a loan of Birr 22,370,000 to Ato Fitsumzeab for the buying of a soap factory.

The loan for the acquisition of Gullele Soap Factory from the Ethiopian Privatization Agency, according to the prosecutor , was approved in contravention to the bank's policies and procedures.

Following the hearing of the prosecutor's witness and review of the audit report presented by the prosecutor to the court, a ruling passed on January 4th stated the court had established that the borrowerpaid Birr 8,948,000 amounting to 40% of the acquisition value disproving the charge of 100% financing.

The court further ruled that Ato Fitsumzeab Asgedom, Ato Habtesellasie Hagos and Ato Mulugeta Gebremedhin be released from prison provided that they are not wanted for other charges.

***

Vice-president Alazar Dessie (pic: The Reporter)

Alazar Dessie, an American citizen and one of Ethiopia's acclaimed bankers, once worked as a consultant to the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, has been arrested for abusing his power and has been awaiting trial for more than 4 years, while not ever having been formally charged...

It's 2008, Mr. Dessie is still languishing in prison. Try the Ethiopian Embassy to contact him.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know if Ato Alazar Dessie has been released?
Thanks
Sue

Anonymous said...

No, as of March 2007 he is still being detained.

Anonymous said...

Is there any way I can find out how to write to him?
Thanks

Anonymous said...

Is it possible to write to him? Does anyone know what prison he is being held in??
Thanks
Sue

Anonymous said...

If you don't work with the government,they will find a reason to imprison innocent people. Who cares, that is the problem with Meles regieme. This gentleman went to serve and help the banking system and he didn't know their way of working,not knowing that the system he went in is corrupt and he paid a price and ended up in prison with no cause. Very sad.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know if it is possible to write to Ato Alazar Dessie in prision? Amnesty, state dept., consul ignore my requests...
Sue

Anonymous said...

It is now 2008...does anyone know if Mr. Dessie has been freed?

Anonymous said...

My heart is broken that Ato Alazar Dessie is still in jail I think it deplorable that the US Govt. hasn't dealt with this matter years ago.
Sue