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Why Was Israeli Minister In Ethiopia To Visit Imprisoned Businessman?

Why Was Israeli Minister In Ethiopia To Visit Imprisoned Businessman?

Israel’s minister of Agriculture, Uri Ariel, made an un-expected visit to  Ethiopia last week to visit an Israeli business man who has been in prison since July last year in Addis Ababa.

The details of Ariel’s visit to Ethiopia remained privy but the tribulations facing Menashe Levy were a key reason for the impromptu visit, Ynet News.com reported.

Levy is accused of tax evasion, money laundering and bribery at the helm of Tidhar Excavation and Earth Moving Ltd., an Israeli company that has operated in Ethiopia for the last eight years.

Family members informed the Israeli government of the problems facing Levy, including a heart attack. This prompted Ariel to visit the imprisoned businessman.

Ariel’s visit was expected to help address the woes facing the businessman. The Ethiopian government accuses Levy of tax evasion, amounting to $ 6.5 million (144 million Br). He is still awaiting trial in court.

Levy alleged that his imprisonment was politically motivated to smear him and Tidhar Excavation and Earth Moving Ltd., an Israeli mining company that he has operated in the horn of Africa nation for eight years.

The government confiscated his company’s equipment, estimated to be worth $30 million and frozen his bank accounts. Some of the assets impounded are 16 vehicles, 21 machinery and about $2,2 million (50 million Br) that was to be paid to the company for constructing three roads in Addis Ababa, Capital reported.

Tidhar is considered one of the biggest contractors in the nation.

The company has faced woes in recent times. Early this year, Lideta Federal High Court ordered the company to pay 39 million Birr to Dalol Oil S.C, a fuel and lubricants-supply firm, Addis Fortune reported.

The ruling was made after the Israeli-owned firm sent a payment cheque that did not have sufficient funds to Dalol Oil S.C, last year.

The Federal High Court had also ordered Tidhar Excavation and Earth Moving Ltd. to pay $40, 269 (892,745 Br) to Temule General trading for a truck it rented.

The visit by the agriculture minister came barely two months after Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu made an historic visit to the nation, alongside other African countries.

Netanyahu asked the Ethiopian government to help secure the release of Avraham Mengistu, an Ethiopian Israeli held by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported.