Meskerem Aberra, the founder and owner of the social media platform Ethio Nqat, was sentenced to one year and four months in prison for a computer crime she was found guilty of three weeks ago.
The Federal High Court’s First Special Crimes Division delivered the verdict. Meskerem Aberra’s lawyer, Ato Henok Aklilu, told the BBC that she was not present when the verdict was announced.
It was also stated that Meskerem Aberra was found guilty due to two programs broadcast on the Ethio Nqat YouTube channel, which she owns and manages.
The first program, titled “Message to General Abeba Tadesse,” was posted on April 4, 2014. The second, titled “What is Happening in the Amhara Region?” was posted three days later on April 7, 2014, on the same YouTube channel.
The trial held last October found Meskerem Aberra guilty and set an alternative date for the sentencing.
Lawyer Henok, who announced the sentencing at the trial held on Monday, November 16, 2017, said, “This decision was made because Meskerem Aberra did not appear at the trial due to her complaint.”
Henok explained his client’s complaint by stating, “Since the defense witnesses I presented earlier were not properly considered, she said she does not expect justice from this trial. She stated, ‘Impose the sentence you think is appropriate,’ and informed the court in writing that she would no longer appear at the trial.”
When asked if an appeal had been filed following the court’s decision, the lawyer responded:
“Based on what we discussed with her, we will prepare and submit our appeal to the Federal Supreme Court regarding the sentence only, not the punishment. This is because the acts for which Meskerem was found guilty do not incite any hatred, do not create conflict among the people, and do not constitute a crime,” he said.
In addition to this case, Meskerem Aberra is known to have been charged with another criminal offense—”committing acts of terrorism”—along with Dr. Wondwosen Assefa, Dawit Begashaw, Gobeze Sisay, and Genet Asmamaw.
