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The Trade Practices Investigation Commission has
said it will auction 500qts of teff that were
confiscated four months ago from Seyoum Kebede on
suspicion that he intended to contravene a ban on
grain exports.
The grain will be auctioned publicly by orders of
the Commission, which issued its decision two weeks
ago. Following the order issued by the Commission,
the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) has
scheduled the auction of the 500qts for December 17,
2007. Currently a quintal of teff goes for
not less than 580 Br.
On August 18, 2007, a team of experts from the
Ministry raided Seyoum’s warehouse in the Yeka
District, Kebele 20/21, and allegedly found the
teff, which is used to make traditional
injera bread, being packed for export. Since
then, the experts sealed off the warehouse with the
grain inside.
The Ministry took the case to the Commission and
charged Seyoum with attempting to unlawfully export
the teff. The government, since January, has
prohibited the export of teff and other
grains in an effort to stabilise a rise in consumer
prices. In the year ending July 2007, Ethiopian
consumer prices rose 16.7pc.
The businessman is engaged in the export of various
crops from Ethiopia to Israel. Seyoum has also been
supplying commodities for the local market.
Seyoum told to the
Commission that he stored the commodity at the
aforementioned warehouse for the past 16 months
waiting to sell at a higher price, and denies the
charge that he hoarded the grain with the intent to
export it to overseas markets.
The Commission requested that MoTI’s attorney
provide testimonies to prove that the commodity was
meant for export. In the midst of this, Seyoum
requested that the Commission auction the commodity
in the warehouse out of concern that grain would
spoil.
As soon as Seyoum’s application was heard and
accepted by the Commission, led by Harka Haroye,
former Minister of Justice, it issued the order for
the seized goods in the warehouse to be auctioned.
Until the case is settled, the money from the sale
of the goods will be saved in the government’s
coffer.
Government authorities claim that inflation has been
exacerbated by some members of the business
community who have hoarded basic commodities
speculating on a further rise in price.
MoTI has also filed
charges against businessmen such as Abdulsemed
Takele and Jalaladin Takele, who were suspected of
hoarding 654qt of teff, 468qt of soybeans and
400qt of curry in a rented warehouse in Addis Ketema
District, kebele 19, owned by Beyene Teshale.
According to the proclamation that created the
Commission, if Seyoum and other suspects are found
guilty, their business licenses would be revoked,
and fined 50,000 Br. The money gained from the sale
of the seized commodities will go to the government
coffer.
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