ADDIS ABABA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The number of detained senior Ethiopian government officials, businesspersons and middlemen, who were arrested in connection with an alleged large-scale corruption scandal, has increased to 39 on Friday.
The number of suspected government officials and their associates could still rise as the large-scale investigation is still underway in the east African country, local media FBC quoted the Ethiopian Ministry of Government Communication Affairs Office as saying.
However, only the identity of the first 34 individuals, who were arrested late on Tuesday, is so far revealed following their appearance before an Ethiopian court on Thursday.
Amongst the 34 defendants, who have appeared at the second criminal bench of the Ethiopian federal high court on Thursday, include the former Manager of Addis Ababa Roads Authority, Fekade Haile.
According to the criminal case presented to the court, the detained senior Ethiopian government officials, businesspersons and middlemen have been arrested for an alleged embezzlement of over 2 billion Ethiopian birr (over 86 million U.S. dollars).
The ongoing arrest of senior government officials, businesspersons and middlemen is said to be a part of the Ethiopian government's reform process, which was started at the end of 2016 to provide a concrete answer to the preoccupations of the public.
