Following the completion of the police investigation in to the suspects of the bomb attack at a rally organized in support of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on June 23, 2018, the court granted the Attorney General 15 and 10 days to institute charges on suspects organized under two charge files.
The court granted 15 days for the Attorney General to file charges on five individuals suspected of providing the bomb, financial support and for leading the operation through phone. The court has also granted 10 days (out of the 15 requested) to charge other 10 suspects from the Federal Police including the Addis Ababa Police Commission Deputy Commissioner, Girma Kassa, for willful negligence.
The charge on the suspects is to be instituted in two files. The first batch of suspects will be directly charged for involvement in the bomb attack and the others for not properly carrying out their roles during the rally.
Although the suspects had opposed the time granted by the court for filing charges and requested for their bail rights, the court ignored their request and granted the 15 days extension on the five suspects who are suspected of direct involvement and 10 on the 10 suspects to be charged for willful negligence.
The suspects complained that they are being treated inhumanely at the detention center and complained to court that their rights have been alienated. Hence, they have requested for their bail right be granted.
The Attorney General explained that, as the attack claimed two lives and more than 100 have been injured; it needs to refer to the proper provisions in the criminal code and check whether bail is allowed, for charges brought under those provisions.
