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Former top Ethiopian official faces corruption charges
March 27, 1997
Web posted at: 5:00 p.m. EST (2200 GMT)ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (CNN) -- Ethiopia's former deputy prime minister and defense chief Tamrat Layne and eight others were charged Thursday with corruption.
Tamrat, 42, was serving as deputy prime minister in October when Prime Minister Meles Zenawi fired him. Tamrat is accused of gross abuse of power and taking more than a $1 million in corrupt deals.
Tamrat and the other accused were not required to enter a plea at Thursday's hearing.
Their trial is scheduled for April 15. If found guilty, the accused could get between three and 15 years in prison.
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