Prosecutor asks to keep secret list of witnesses under CUD leader file
Dec 22, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Prosecutor appealed to the federal high court to order it not to give in advance list of witnesses and testimony it would submit concerning the case under the leader of the opposition CUD, Engineer Hailu Shawl’s file.
The court adjourned for December 28 2005 to examine the matter and issue the necessary order.
The prosecutor expressed its belief that giving list of witnesses, their address and their testimonials to defendants in advance will obviously affect the judicial process, the official ENA said on 21 December.
The prosecutor also said it will, in the course of the judicial process, explain to the court about the case of a number of people that were dubbed as defectors and alienated simply for cooperating with police.
The prosecutor further said it has realized that harassment and intimidation against those members of CUD that decided to join the parliament by supporters of the defendants continued despite the seizure of the defendants.
It appealed to the court to order the prosecutor not to give in advance the identity of witnesses by considering the problems that witnesses may change their words for fear of pressure, intimidation, forceful actions and alienation which in turn may make them change their words.
The prosecutor stated relevant articles to substantiate its appeal that announcing the identity of witnesses in advance also may entail similar intimidation and assault on their families.
The prosecutor counted about 367 witnesses to seven cases it filed against the suspects.
Birtukan Mideksa on behalf of the defendants requested the court to be given the content of the appeal for better understanding of the appeal and defend it, as she said the appeal is so detailed to comprehend.
She appealed to the court to be given the content of the prosecutors charges without the names of the witnesses.
Concerning reasons whether or not to attach list of witnesses would be presented in the coming appointment which the court gives, she said.
The defendants who were present at the court received the charge devoid of names of witnesses through registrar of the federal high court.
(ENA/ST)