15 February 2024 In a landmark decision, a court in Addis Ababa has sentenced Demekech Maguje Abetu to life imprisonment for human trafficking. This marks the first life sentence handed down for this crime in Ethiopia.
Abetu was found guilty of attempting to traffic six individuals to Jordan in 2022 . She collected significant sums of money from each victim under the guise of providing training and passports. However, she abandoned them at the airport, leaving them vulnerable and exploited.The court acknowledged the severity of the crime, citing the Revised Sentencing Guidelines and considering human and documentary evidence presented by the prosecution. While Abetu initially confessed, the court ultimately decided that the potential for rehabilitation outweighed other mitigating factors.This case represents a significant step forward in Ethiopia’s fight against human trafficking. The life sentence sends a strong message to potential traffickers and demonstrates the country’s commitment to protecting its citizens and holding perpetrators accountable
