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At its 13th regular meeting, the House of People’s Representatives decided to revoke the immunity of Ato Chala Wata, a former president of Bulle Hora University and member of the Prosperity Party.
The Standing Committee on Law and Justice, which was authorized by the House to propose a resolution, presented information gathered from the Federal Auditor and various bodies. It was revealed that Mr. Chala Wata had spent over 195 million birr to purchase machinery from contractors who had not won bids, in a manner that was outside of government procurement regulations. It was also discovered that 116 million birr was spent without permission from the government’s capital to purchase machinery for nine contractors who did not win the auction.
Ato Chala Wata, the council member in question, argued that direct purchases were made during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the standing committee determined that the immunity of those suspected of embezzling government and public resources should be revoked.
The council’s decision was approved with majority support, without opposition, and with one abstention – that of Ato Chala Wata himself.
