According to Berhanu, as a result of three months investigations, 59 individuals, including government officials and businesses, were arrested on suspicion of grand corruption involving millions of dollars. The government officials are former officials from the Ethiopian water Works Construction Enterprise, (WWCE), Public Procurement & Property Disposal Service and Pharmaceuticals Fund and Supply Agency. The corruption allegations involving WWCE officials is related to the embezzlement of 55 million birr (approximately US$2.3 million) of public funds during the procurement of reinforcing bar, while former officials from Public Procurement & Property Disposal Service involves allegations of embezzlement worth more than US$ 23.7 million during the procurement of 400 metric tonnes of wheat. The weekly Fortune reported this morning that among the officials detained was Yigezu Daba, director general of the Public Procurement & Property Disposal Service. They are ten suspects from Ethiopian water Works Construction Enterprise; seven suspects from Public Procurement & Property Disposal Service; and four suspects from Pharmaceuticals Fund and Supply Agency.

Source: Ethiopian News April 12, 2019 16:52 UTC