Corruption charges filed by the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) has resulted in the freezing of properties estimated to be worth two to three billion birr during the first nine months of the Ethiopian fiscal year, according to these authorities.

The properties were blocked fast on the heels of alleged corruption offences the commission pressed charges against, which "warranted" the measure taken by a court order following the consent of the commission.

The assets blocked pending the ruling out of the respective cases in a court comprises leased lands measuring over 523 thousand sq.m., 19 vehicles, a hotel and a resort, 10 villas, three buildings, three warehouses, a factory, 11 shops and over 35.5 million deposited in a bank account.

The alleged corruption offences regarding the acquirement of land in "illegal" ways were filed under 41 investigation files.

Of the total frozen land properties in connection with corruption offenses, land plots covering 366, 700 sq.m. were estimated to be worth over 634 million birr, while estimates for the value the balance  plots of lands is being undertaken by the pertinent government organ. The total estimate for the overall plots of land alone could reach over two billion birr, according to the commission.

The rest of the reported corruption offences involve some 67 suspects, 29 of whom had their money deposited at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia frozen.

The alleged corruption deeds involve the acquisition of land in illegal ways and means, the recently unfolded gold scams with the National Bank of Ethiopia, and other major corrupt practices.

All the aforementioned properties were frozen during the first nine months of the fiscal year.

The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is scheduled to present its nine-month performance to Parliament late this month, during which time the reported frozen assets and the respective suspects who committed the alleged corruption offence are expected to be in the limelight.

By Hayal Alemayehu