Bereket Simon (; born 1960s) is an Ethiopian politician who had served as
Minister of Communication Affairs from its establishment in 1995 to 2012. He was affiliated to the ruling
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF; ) was an ethnic federalist political coalition in Ethiopia that existed from 1989 to 2019. It consisted of four political parties: Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), Amhara ...
(EPRDF), of which he was a founding member. He underwent medical treatment in
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...
financed by the billionaire Mohammed Alamudin. He was a close friend of former prime minister
Meles Zenawi
Meles Zenawi Asres ( Tigringa and ; ), born Legesse Zenawi Asres (8 May 1955 – 20 August 2012) was an Ethiopian politician and former rebel militant commander who served as president of Ethiopia from 1991 to 1995 and as prime minister from 19 ...
since their University days. He was widely considered as Meles Zenawi's right-hand man.
Personal life
Bereket was born in
Dabat to an
Eritrea
Eritrea, officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa, with its capital and largest city being Asmara. It is bordered by Ethiopia in the Eritrea–Ethiopia border, south, Sudan in the west, and Dj ...
n family.
As he was in high school in 1978,
he was likely born in the 1960s.
Legal issues
On 23 January 2019, Bereket was arrested by the
Amhara Region government in relation to
corruption
Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense that is undertaken by a person or an organization that is entrusted in a position of authority to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's gain. Corruption may involve activities ...
along with Tadesse Kassa, a civil servant. On 8 May 2020, Bereket was convicted of corruption and sentenced to six years of prison. Tadesse Kassa, a former TIRET Corporation board member, was also convicted. However, after serving probation in prison located in
Bahir Dar
Bahir Dar () is the capital city of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Bahir Dar is one of the leading tourist destinations in Ethiopia, with a variety of attractions in the nearby Lake Tana and Blue Nile river. The city is known for its wide avenues li ...
, the government released him on account of parole on 25 January 2023. According to his defense lawyer Hiwot Lilay, Bereket should be released in September 2022 for his one-third of jail term in accordance with the regional law, despite having no opportunity to him.
References
External links
Walta information Interview with SimonBereket Simon Writes a Book on the Past Two Elections
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front politicians
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
{{Ethiopia-politician-stub