OFC leadership Bekele Gerba appears before court

Addis Ababa, July 14, 2020 (FBC) –Bekele Gerba, OFC’s leadership, and his two sons yesterday appeared before court on crimes of snatching  the body of artist Hachalu Hundessa and inciting violence following his death.

Nine of the ten guards of Jawar Mohammed also appeared at the Lideta federal first instance court. Artist Hachalu was shot dead in Addis Ababa two weeks ago.

Police said it had obtained as evidences the phone calls made by Bekele to different parts of Oromia regional state ahead of his arrest, calling for violence and attack against residents and government supporters.

Moreover, police indicated that it had discovered two pistols inside his home and was investigating whether he had permission to possess them.

Police asked the court for additional 14 days to investigate the report it received from two individuals whose properties worth 140 million birr have been damaged following the calls made by Bekele.

Police further said it needs additional time to present as evidences the damages occurred on Sheger and Anbessa city buses as well as other private properties.

Bekele Gerba denied the accusations stating that he had no link with the issue.

Bekele said he headed to the Oromo cultural centre since he was unable to attend farewell ceremony of the body of the artist to Ambo stating as reason the closure of a road at a place called Ashewa Meda.

However, police said it was a planned attempt to incite violence by  snatching the body of the artist and keeping it for ten days in the capital Addis Ababa at Meskel square.

Police said the detention of two sons of Bekele Gerba was linked with inciting violence by receiving instructions from their father.

Nine of the ten bodyguards of Jawar Mohammed also appeared before court. One of the guards was absent because he was taken to an isolation centre due to suspicion of COVID-19.

Police said it seized nine communication radios, nine pistols and ten Kalashnikov rifles from the guards.

According to police, one member of the special force was killed and three others injured due to the violence occurred when the guards entered into office of the Oromia Property Party.

Police said it needs additional time to interpret some of the materials it seized as exhibits to evidences.

It also asked for additional 14 days to organize the evidences gathered by the 7 teams that were dispatched to various parts of Oromia regional state to investigate the extent of the damages caused by the violence.

The court set July, 16, 2020 to give decision on police’s request for additional time.