By Simegnish Yekoye
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- The Ethiopian parliament has lifted the immunity from criminal prosecution of Shewaferahu Yitina, elected member of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) after a request from Addis Ababa City Administration saying he is a suspect in two robbery cases.
The letter the city administration wrote to the parliament specified that Shewaferahu was also caught committing a third robbery and is already under investigation.
According to the constitution of the country, though parliament members have full immunity, this will be taken away if they are caught committing a criminal act.
However, the letter of the City Administration says police have not been able to question Shewaferahu for the other two robbery cases because of his privileged status as a parliamentarian.
“I have nothing to do with any of the cases the police is charging me with,” said Shewaferahu when asked to defend himself before his immunity is taken away.
“I have written a letter both to the parliament and to the minister’s office about my innocence, but no one came to talk to me. I am becoming a victim of injustice,” he added.
Shewaferahu also explained to parliament members that he was sick and was getting traditional treatment at the time police accused him of being involved in a robbery and that many people can testify to that.
He also revealed the nature of the interrogation the police had subjected him to; “What the police had been asking me about was why I joined the parliament,” he said.
After looking at the letter of request from the city administration, the legal and administration affairs standing committee in the parliament forwarded a recommendation to the parliament asking for the removal of Shewaferahu’s immunity.
“The standing committee isn’t giving a verdict that Shewaferahu is guilty and should be sentenced. We are saying he should be questioned by the police for the crimes he is suspected of,” said Asmelash, a member of the standing committee.
With a majority vote of 245 in favor, 73 opposing and 20 abstentions, the parliament accepted the recommendation of the standing committee to remove Shewaferahu’s immunity.
– The Sub-Saharan Informer