Prosecutor files charges against suspects in gold fraud

April 13, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption prosecutor on Monday filed charges against 21 suspects of the gold fraud committed at the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) at the Federal High Court First Criminal Court.

The charges are filed under two categories. In the first file seven senior officials of NBE and four officials of the Ethiopian Geological Survey are accused of failure to discharge their responsibility in protecting the interest of the government and in committing a corrupt act.

Officials of NBE who are under custody are Seife Desta, director of foreign exchange directorate, Seid Ibrahim, head of the foreign exchange supervision and statistics department, Wasu Adem Ali, head of the currency management department, Fekadu Lulu Bekele, Alemayehu Kassahun Immire, Fekadu Defa Babu, Chimdessa Hirpa Irge.

Officials of the Ethiopian Geological Survey who are accused in alleged involvement in the gold scandal are Amenti Abraham, chief geologist, Yasin Yimam Ibrahim, head of the geochemical laboratory, Sisay Engida Bezawork, head of the Ethiopian Geological Survey Central Laboratory, and Belachew Berassa Changei, Senior chemist.

The prosecutor has filed charges against one of the suspects called Asmare Ayalew who has never been arrested. The prosecutor asserts that Asmare Ayalew used a fake identity, Kefyalew Umeta. According to information obtained from NBE in 2006, Kefyalew Umeta supplied 239.36748 kg of gold with a total value of 35,924,502.59 birr.

From July to December 2007 Kefyalew supplied 222.9623 kg valued at 35,974,160.34 birr. The police recently arrested Mesfin Wolde Zena, relative of Asmare Ayalew. Mefin Wolde is charged together with Asmare.  

The prosecutor also filed charges against Baredin Nursebo, Sultan Mohammed Sofam, Kaf Mohammed Sofam, Abdishikur Mohammed Sofam, Mudesir Mohammed, owner of Sofam Enterprise, Fuad Mohammed Sofam, owner of Wow Fashion and Wow Garment Factory, Mohhammed Awol and other individuals. The prosecutor accused the individuals of defrauding the NBE over 158 million birr. The court adjourned the case for April 18.