Gov’t Pardons, Drops Cases of More Than 700 Persons

Addis Ababa may 26/2018 The Federal Attorney General announced that cases of citizens under detention for alleged corruption, terrorism and other crimes have been dropped and some pardoned under special condition. Among those to be released under special condition is Andargachew Tsige, who was apprehended in Sana, Yemen, and remained in prison for the past four years. Briefing the media today, Attorney-General Birhanu Tsegaye disclosed that the charges of 27 individuals and four firms accused of corruption is dropped in line with Proclamation No. 943/2008. In addition, 576 individuals convicted of various crimes are pardoned and cases of 137 individuals charged for alleged terrorism dropped. The decision to pardon and drop charges was made to respond to grievances of the public on good governance and widen the political space, the Attorney General said. Out of the 576 individuals pardoned, 18 are women, it was learned.