Ethiopia has detained a total of 63 individuals on suspicion of committing human rights abuses and corruption.
Attorney General Berhanu Tsegaye told local journalists yesterday that the arrests came after five months of investigation.
According to his statement, 36 of the suspects were detained in connection with human rights abuses, mainly abuses of political prisoners jailed for terrorism. The remaining 27 individuals were detained for serious corruption cases.
In particular, he singled out the Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC) for corruption. He charged the organization for purchasing over $2 billion worth of supplies without official bidding process from abroad between 2011 and 2017. The corporation also allegedly bought billions more from local sources without the proper bidding process.
The Attorney General further said that seven secret detention centers were discovered in Addis Ababa.
He added some suspects are at large and being hunted.
According to him, some of the criminals have left the country, and Ethiopia is working to bring them to justice.
