The approved Asset Recovery Proclamation is now in effect and will only be enforced through a court order, ensuring that suspects have the opportunity to appear in court and present their case to avoid unjust charges.
The Ministry of Justice, responsible for implementing the proclamation, briefed journalists today about its enforcement following its approval on January 1.
The proclamation aims to safeguard national and public assets by properly recovering those acquired through illegal means.
Justice Minister Hana Arayasalassie emphasized that while the Ministry of Justice oversees the implementation of the proclamation, it will not be enforced arbitrarily but strictly through judicial decisions.
However, in cases where irreparable damage could occur—such as the risk of assets being smuggled out of the country—the Ministry of Justice has the authority to impose a temporary ban without requiring a court order.
The proclamation also includes provisions to protect individuals who acquire property in good faith, without knowledge of its illegal origins, from having their assets confiscated.
Additionally, the Minister highlighted that the proclamation provides a legal framework allowing individuals suspected of acquiring illegal property to prove their innocence. This can be done by presenting evidence that they did not obtain the property unlawfully or by relying on testimony from others.
The proclamation is also being enforced in collaboration with various countries. If it is determined that an asset was acquired illegally abroad, it will be subject to recovery, even if it is currently located in Ethiopia.
Another key provision states that asset recovery is not solely dependent on a suspect’s guilt. If a suspect dies or flees the country, their assets will not remain untouched. Instead, they will be frozen, the case will be investigated, and if necessary, the property will be confiscated in their absence.
The Ministry of Justice reiterated that the primary objective of the Asset Recovery Proclamation is to protect law-abiding citizens who have acquired assets through legal means and hard work, while preventing individuals who have committed economic crimes from benefiting from their unlawfully obtained wealth.
