Jul 17 , 2022
Mid last week, a judge at the Federal First Instance High Court granted federal investigators 14-day custody of Mitiku Kassa, head of the National Disaster Risk Management Commission. Mitiku and his son, Eyasu, were detained by federal police the day prior on suspicion of "corruption, misuse of public property, and abuse of office." Police say they suspect the Commissioner was an actor in embezzlement activities involving Elshadai Relief & Development Association, a local charity. Elshadai was established in 1990 by Yemane Woldemariam, according to the charity's website. Police suspect Mitiku was involved in the misappropriation of aid items such as wheat and edible oil under the purview of the Commission for personal gain. The federal police suspect a three-storey building in Hawassa town was acquired in Commissioner Mitiku’s wife’s name using close to 10 million Br in misappropriated funds and rented out to Elshadai.