The Anti-Corruption Commission has brought charges against two individuals working at the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Trade Authority, for selling coffee to 56 illegal coffee exporters from 2008 to 2015. This act has deprived Ethiopia of over 75.7 million dollars in foreign exchange, which is a quarter of the country’s export earnings, according to the charges.
The two suspects, Getahun Bekora and Tateke Girma, were working in the Ministry of Trade in the positions of Director of Coffee Regulation and Study, and Coffee Study Team Leader, respectively. Out of 56 suspects, 27 have been arrested and are being investigated.
Last week, the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Trade Authority held a discussion with exporters in a bid to improve export proceeds made from coffee.
The case of the two employees and the 56 alleged coffee exporters was one of the major issues raised during the meeting.
Two temporary standing committees, comprising officials from the Ministry of Trade, Ethiopian Commodity Exchange, Warehouse Service Institute and the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Trade Authority, were formed in November 2016 to investigate whether the correct procedures had been implemented in the export coffee trading.
The Anti-Corruption Commission also filed charges against other individuals suspected of corruption, including Abraham Guade, vice manager of ethio telecom and Ephrem Mekuria, communications director and former Logistic Supply and Management Director of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.
In all cases, the Federal Police Commission Criminal Investigation office has applied for a 14 day extension to complete their investigation.
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