APA – Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The Ethiopian police has arrested Tamiru Gembeta, Deputy Director of Immigration, Nationality and Vital Events Agency, and several other officials whose numbers are unspecified.
They are detained over alleged corruption and they appeared in front of a judge on Thursday.
APA can report that on the same day security forces searched the residence of the deputy director with a court warrant.
Immigration, Nationality, and Vital Events Agency have been in the limelight in connection with alleged corruption.
There had been reports that passport issuance had become among highly corrupted services especially since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office five years ago.
Some employees in the agency allegedly partnered with entities engaged in brokerage were also dragged to court.
The Ethiopian PM removed the director and deputy director about three months ago and that sixteen employees of the agency and five other individuals who were allegedly involved in fraudulent facilitation of overseas travel were arrested.
Despite much talk about reforms, Abiy Ahmed’s administration has been struggling with unprecedented levels of corruption in recent times.
MG/as/APA