Investigators have wound down probes into Bereket Simon and Tadesse Kassa, former executives of Tiret Corporate, and handed over the case to prosecutors.

The two former executives were arrested two months ago on suspicion of high profile corruption, and investigators of the Amhara Regional State Anti-Corruption Commission have been conducting the probes ever since. During the latest court session held last Friday, March 29, 2019, investigators reported that they were done with the probes and transferred the case to prosecutors to press charges.

The suspects have appeared before the Regional High Court eight times and could only manage to get legal representation once, as many lawyers refused to represent them due to harassment and threats they faced from a group that attended the court sessions.

The prosecutors, who received a 613-page audit report, 35-page expert opinion and a list of witnesses from the investigators, have requested the Court grant a 15-day extension to file charges. The bench, which has been reviewing the case for the past two months, has closed the case so that it can be transferred to another bench that will review cases after charges are filed.

The two suspects opposed the prosecutors' extension request, stating that since prosecutors have been working closely with the investigators they do not need any additional time to file the charges. They have also appealed for bail rights and to have their case transferred to another court by citing their safety and the need to obtain legal representation.

After hearing both sides, the judges ruled that the suspects can request to be granted bail rights and legal representation as both requests are constitutional. The judges also ruled that their appeal to have their cases transferred to another court would be reviewed once charges are filed.

The Court passed over making any ruling on the 15-day extension requested by prosecutors, which confused their families and the public in the courtroom.

Article 109 of the criminal procedure code states that prosecutors shall frame, file and service charges within 15 days of the receipt of a police report.

"If charges are not pressed within two weeks, the suspects can appeal to have their cases dismissed and be released claiming wrongful imprisonment [when someone is detained against his will, without authority and/or cause]," said Adonay Teweldeberehan, an independent lawyer who was once a prosecutor.

Families of the suspects said that they will start to process bail rights for the suspects this week.