Ex-Intelligence Chief Charged with Human Right Violation

Addis Ababa May 8/2019 The Federal Attorney General has charged former head of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), Getachew Assefa along with 25 others over alleged human right abuses.

The 26 suspects have been charged with a total of 46 criminal charges.

Twenty-two of the suspects are currently in custody while the other four individuals including Getachew Assefa were absent during yesterday's court proceeding.

The charges are the result of the investigations that have been conducted by the Federal Police on officials and employees of NISS in connection to human rights violations.

Getachew Assefa was the head of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) until June 2018, when he was removed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed amid sweeping reforms.