Former Ethiopian official Bereket Simon, who was arrested four years ago on corruption charges, has been released from prison today, according to his family. Bereket Simon, who is in his 60s, served as Communications Minister for the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and was a founding member of the party. He was considered a close friend and right-hand man of former Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, with whom he attended university.

In January 2019, Bereket was arrested by the Amhara region government in relation to corruption, along with Tadesse Kassa, a civil servant. On May 8, 2020, Bereket was convicted of corruption and sentenced to six years in prison. Tadesse Kassa, a former TIRET Corporation board member, was also convicted.