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The Practical Significances and Challenges of Assets Disclosure and Registration Law in Combating Illicit Enrichment Crime in Ethiopia

Received: 27 January 2020    Accepted: 25 February 2020    Published: 28 May 2020
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Abstract

A well-designed and structured ADR system can be used as a strong tool to combat corruption effectively and eventually lead to successful conviction of illicit enrichment crime. The main objective of this study is to identify the practical significances and challenges of implementing the ADR law in combating illicit enrichment in Ethiopia and forwards the recommendations for the identified issues. In order to achieve the research aims, the author employed the combination of doctrinal and empirical legal research approach. Accordingly, this article analyzed both primary and secondary data sources. Then, the data were analyzed and interpreted to draw conclusions. Based up on the research findings, it argues that the Ethiopian ADR law has not comprehensively designed to combat illicit enrichment crime. Besides, it was poorly implemented in fighting illicit enrichment crime in Ethiopia. Thus, this article recommends different measures to be taken into account by the government, law enforcement and FEACC so as to enhance the effective implementation of the ADR law in combating illicit enrichment in Ethiopia.

Published in International Journal of Education, Culture and Society (Volume 5, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijecs.20200503.11
Page(s) 34-44
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Corruption, Crime, Assets Disclosure and Registration, Illicit Enrichment, Asset Disclosure, Asset Declarations

References
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[2] This can be evidenced from the TI Corruption Perception Index. Retrieved from www.transparency.org/cpi
[3] Inter-American Convention Against Corruption (IACAC), Mar. 29, 1996, 35 I. L. M. 724, Article 3; see African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), July 11, 2003, 43 I. L. M. 5, Article7, para 1; see also United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) (2003), Article8(5).
[4] Ethiopia signed the Convention on 10 December 2003 and ratified it on 26 November 2007. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNCAC/CountryVisitFinalReports/2015_10_14_Ethiopia_Final_County_Report.pdf.
[5] The Convention was signed by Ethiopia on 1 June 2004 and ratified on 18 September 2007.
[6] Corruption Crimes Proclamation, No. 881/2015, Negarit Gazeta, 21st Year No.36, Addis Ababa, 3rd April, 2015, Article 21.
[7] Assets Disclosure and Registration Proclamation No.668/2010, Negarit Gazeta, 16th Year No. 18, Addis Ababa 12th April, 2010, Preamble and Article 13.
[8] TI, Corruption Perceptions Index. Retrieved from https://www.transparency.org/research/cpi.
[9] World Justice Project on the Rule of Law Index.(2018-2019). Retrieved from https://worldjusticeproject.org/sites/default/files/documents/WJP-ROLI-2019-Single%20Page%20View-Reduced 0.pdf.
[10] Negash, B. (2016). The Effectiveness of Anticorruption Institutions in Implementing International Anticorruption Instruments: The case of the Federal Ethics and Anticorruption Commission of Ethiopia, (Unpublished MA thesis, AAU).
[11] Alemayehu, B. (2015). A Study of the Role of Assets Disclosure and Registration Law Proclamation. No 668/2010 in Reducing Corruption: The Case of FEACC, (Unpublished MA thesis, AAU).
[12] Muzila, L., Morales, M., Mathias, M., and Berger, T. (2012). On the Take: Criminalizing Illicit Enrichment to Fight Corruption, (Washington, DC: World Bank).
[13] Rossi, Ivana M., Laura Pop, and Tammar Berger (2017). Getting the Full Picture on the Public Officials: A How to Guide for Effective Financial Disclosure. Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Series. Washington, DC: WB.
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[15] WB & UNODC. (2009). Asset and Income Declaration Guide Concept Note.
[16] OECD. (2011). Fighting Corruption in Eastern Europe and Central Asia Asset Declarations for Public Officials: A Tool to Prevent Corruption Paris’ (OECD Publishing).
[17] Gustavo A. Vargas & David S. (2016). Opening Public Officials Coffers: A Quantitative Analysis of the Impact of Financial Disclosure Regulation on National Corruption Levels, Eur J Crim Policy Res, pp. 439-475.
[18] Barnes, DW., Berger, Tammar., Burdescu, Ruxandra., Gilman, Stuart., Habershon, Alexandra M., Recancesca., Reid, Gary J., Trapnell, Stephanie E. (2012). Public Office, Private Interests: Accountability through Income and Asset Disclosure. Washington DC: World Bank.
[19] Mohannad, Zainal., andFauzin. (2016). The Law on the Illicit Enrichment Crime and Financial Disclosure in Jordan: Issue of Effectiveness and Enforceability, Vol. 2, No. 5 The Journal of Social Sciences Research, pp.100-105.
[20] Jenkins, M. (2015). Income and Asset Disclosure Topic Guide Compiled by the Anti-Corruption Helpdesk, Transparency International.
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[22] FEACC, 1st Round (2003-2004 E. C). (2005). ADR Performance Report, Addis Ababa.
[23] Interview with AndualemTamene, Senior assets verification expert and Team leaders of Asset Disclosure and Registration Directorate at the FEACC, Done at his Office, 7 June, 2019.
[24] Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Nine Month Performance Report, 2018/2019 (FEACC Nine Month Performance Report, 2018/2019), p. 18.
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[26] Oromia Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Prosecutor v. Zelalem Jemane et al, Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfinne High Court, Judgment, Criminal File No.14761, [28/03/2010 E.C].
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[30] Interview with MeronAnemow, Public Prosecutor at the FAG, Done at her Office, 22 August, 2019 & Interview with Indale Tsagaye, Public Prosecutor at the FAG, Done at his Office, 22 August, 2019.
[31] The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Constitution, Proclamation No. 1 of 1995, Article 26 (3).
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[33] The Criminal Code of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Proclamation No.414/2004, NegaritGazeta, No., Year, 9th of May, 2005, Article 419, (Corruption Crimes proclamation, Article 21).
[34] Assefa, S. K. (2012). The principle of the presumption of Innocence and its Challenges in the Ethiopian Criminal Process, Vol.6 No.2 Mizan Law Review, pp. 274-310.
[35] Meskele, M. T. (2012). The Legal Framework of Illicit Enrichment in Ethiopian Anti Corruption Law (Unpublished Master thesis, at the Faculty of Law, University of the Western Cape).
[36] Kofele-Kale, N. (2012). Combating Economic Crimes: Balancing Competing Rights and Interests in Prosecuting the Crime of Illicit Enrichment, (Oxford: UK, First Published by Routledge Research in Transnational Crime and Criminal Law).
[37] Wilsher, D. (2006). Inexplicable Wealth and Illicit Enrichment of Public Officials: A Model draft that respects Human Rights in Corruption Cases, Volume 45, No. 1, Journal of Crime, Law and Social Change, Publisher Springer Netherlands, pp. 27-53.
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[39] Attorney General v. Hui Kin-Hong, Court of Appeal No. 52 of [1995].
[40] Interview with Abera Abadi, Head of the Corruption Crimes Investigation Directorate at FPC, Done at his Office, 21 August, 2019.
[41] Interview with BogaleTaso, Senior Declaration Officer and Team leaders of Assets Disclosure and Registration Directorate at the FEACC, Done at his Office, 7June, 2019.
[42] Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Assets Disclosure and Registration Form, April, 2010 E. C.
[43] Persson A. (2013). Why Anticorruption Reforms Fails Systemic Corruption as a Collective Action Problem, 26(3), Governance, p. 454.
[44] Snider TR and Kidane. (2007). Combating Corruption through International Law in Africa: A Comparative Analysis, 40 Cornell International Law Journals, p. 695.
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  • APA Style

    Diriba Adugna Tulu. (2020). The Practical Significances and Challenges of Assets Disclosure and Registration Law in Combating Illicit Enrichment Crime in Ethiopia. International Journal of Education, Culture and Society, 5(3), 34-44. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijecs.20200503.11

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    ACS Style

    Diriba Adugna Tulu. The Practical Significances and Challenges of Assets Disclosure and Registration Law in Combating Illicit Enrichment Crime in Ethiopia. Int. J. Educ. Cult. Soc. 2020, 5(3), 34-44. doi: 10.11648/j.ijecs.20200503.11

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    AMA Style

    Diriba Adugna Tulu. The Practical Significances and Challenges of Assets Disclosure and Registration Law in Combating Illicit Enrichment Crime in Ethiopia. Int J Educ Cult Soc. 2020;5(3):34-44. doi: 10.11648/j.ijecs.20200503.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijecs.20200503.11,
      author = {Diriba Adugna Tulu},
      title = {The Practical Significances and Challenges of Assets Disclosure and Registration Law in Combating Illicit Enrichment Crime in Ethiopia},
      journal = {International Journal of Education, Culture and Society},
      volume = {5},
      number = {3},
      pages = {34-44},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijecs.20200503.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijecs.20200503.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijecs.20200503.11},
      abstract = {A well-designed and structured ADR system can be used as a strong tool to combat corruption effectively and eventually lead to successful conviction of illicit enrichment crime. The main objective of this study is to identify the practical significances and challenges of implementing the ADR law in combating illicit enrichment in Ethiopia and forwards the recommendations for the identified issues. In order to achieve the research aims, the author employed the combination of doctrinal and empirical legal research approach. Accordingly, this article analyzed both primary and secondary data sources. Then, the data were analyzed and interpreted to draw conclusions. Based up on the research findings, it argues that the Ethiopian ADR law has not comprehensively designed to combat illicit enrichment crime. Besides, it was poorly implemented in fighting illicit enrichment crime in Ethiopia. Thus, this article recommends different measures to be taken into account by the government, law enforcement and FEACC so as to enhance the effective implementation of the ADR law in combating illicit enrichment in Ethiopia.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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    AB  - A well-designed and structured ADR system can be used as a strong tool to combat corruption effectively and eventually lead to successful conviction of illicit enrichment crime. The main objective of this study is to identify the practical significances and challenges of implementing the ADR law in combating illicit enrichment in Ethiopia and forwards the recommendations for the identified issues. In order to achieve the research aims, the author employed the combination of doctrinal and empirical legal research approach. Accordingly, this article analyzed both primary and secondary data sources. Then, the data were analyzed and interpreted to draw conclusions. Based up on the research findings, it argues that the Ethiopian ADR law has not comprehensively designed to combat illicit enrichment crime. Besides, it was poorly implemented in fighting illicit enrichment crime in Ethiopia. Thus, this article recommends different measures to be taken into account by the government, law enforcement and FEACC so as to enhance the effective implementation of the ADR law in combating illicit enrichment in Ethiopia.
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Author Information
  • Attorney General Office of Oromia Regional State, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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