15 March 2024
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Ethiopia’s Federal Ministry of Justice announced yesterday that charges against both Major General Kinfe Dagnew and former Somali region administrator Abdi Mohammed Omar have been dropped in the publicx interest.
Kinfe Dagnew, previously head of the FDRE Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC), was facing corruption allegations. Abdi Mohammed Omar’s case was being heard by the First Constitutional and Terrorist Crimes Trial Court.
This decision by the Ministry of Justice prioritizes the greater good over pursuing these specific cases.
Mr. Abdi Mohamed Umar was released after Ethiopian authorities dropped the case against him, according to his lawyer who spoke to the BBC.
It’s important to note that Mr. Umar’s case was separate from another ongoing trial in the 1st Constitutional and Terrorist Crimes Court.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, federal prosecutors had filed corruption charges against Major General Knefe Dannew. These charges stemmed from his time as general manager of the Metals and Engineering Corporation (Metek). The Federal Ministry of Justice, however, has decided to discontinue these prosecutions in the interest of public good, as reported by the national television station.
