The Federal Anti-Corruption Commission went to court this week to sue former telecom CEO Tesfaye Birru, who was detained on Monday and is facing charges of causing a 1.54 billion birr loss to the corporation while he was in office.

After finalized its investigation and handing the case to its attorney, the Federal Anti-Corruption and Ethics Commission officially made charges against Tesfaye at the Federal High Court first criminal bench.

Tesfaye was appeared before the court on Tuesday February 19, and the court adjourned to resume seeing the case next week, February 26.

Tesfaye and other executives who were in the telecommunication corporation management were fired by the corporation's board two years ago.

Following their dismissal, the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has been investigating the case and recently asked to the Federal High Court to freeze Tesfaye's properties.

The audit report prepared by the corporation says that the different purchases made by the management and the business agreements which the same management signed with foreign companies did not follow the proper procedures and gave way to corrupt practices.

The anti-corruption commission accuses the former telecom management of deliberately giving the go-ahead to purchase equipment that are noticeably of inferior quality.

The commission has also been investigating the agreement signed with the Swedish company Eriksson for the expansion of mobile phone network which is estimated to have cost about 48.5 million dollars.

The purchase of solar energy equipment from the US-based Lucent company has been also under investigation by the commission.

The commission says that due to illegal purchases and questionable agreements with foreign companies without proper procedures caused the Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation a 1.54 billion birr loss.

By a Staff Reporter