The Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa)

Ethiopia: Crowd, Chaos Mare Top Singer's Court Hearing

22 April 2008


Addis Ababa — Top singer Tewodros Kassahun, better known as Tedi Afro, who appeared at the High Court on Monday was ordered to stay at Kaliti prison for two more nights until Wednesday, owing to what the court said was "inappropriate act" on the part of his fans who made it to the court to witness the trial.

The court said it was impossible to proceed with the hearing with shouting protesters around, prompting it to adjourn the artist's trial.

In accordance to the decision last Thursday, Tedi appeared in court on Monday for a bail hearing procedure.

But in the presence of hundred's of the artist's fans the court on Monday didn't rule whether or not the artist deserved the right for release on bail.

Tedi was arrested on Thursday in a two-year pending, controversial car accident in which he was alleged to kill a pedestrian.

He denies all that, saying he neither was around the place of accident at that point in time, nor had he any kind of accident, as described by his accusers.

The court is expected to pass verdict in what the police said was to be a closed door hearing, apparently to avoid any clashes with security.

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Author: annonymous
Wed Apr 23 07:45:49 2008

A Nation which prides itself with the highest per capitia accident in the World is faced with a major challenge. As a biased big fan of Teddy Afro, it will be naive to assume my objectivity in this matter.

For all practical purposes, a traffic accident, however horrific, is a civil matter in Ethiopia. I am afraid Ethiopia is one of the few countries where drunk driving isn't an offense per se. It is open secret that traffic lights and the rules as well take off after dusk in Addis. Hardly anyone obeys the basic traffic regulations. A rd light is in the eye of the beholder. In other terms, look to the right and then left and make your call, despite the fact the Light is bloody Red!. The fact is even if one wishes to obey the traffic light he will be at a disadvantage or worse endangers his livelihood. So much for rule of law!

In a Nation where the basic conventional law of vehicular traffic doesn't function after 8 pm, it is absurd to doubt the innocence of Teddy Afro. I will give him have to give him the benefit of doubt. We have to assume one is innocent until proven otherwise. Specially, it is matter of factly, in Ethiopia where the law of the jungles is one deals with while driving, specially after dark

This is a wake up call to the Addis Authorities to revamp the whole motor vehicle laws including those which allow drunks to drive their automobiles without any regard to the consequence.

I am a lay person and not a lawyer for Afro. However, I think, in the worst case scenario, as Addis is the Dodge City of traffic laws Teddy is only liable in a civil court.

I read countless threads on various web sites regarding this affair. Some think Afro has to rot in jail as he aint a royalty. Others were trying to second guess the motives of the Govt. I lost two promising cousins to traffic accidents along the infamous Addis- Nazret Road. I empathyze with the lost life, but Teddy shouldn't be an example for the rest of us, some under the influence of Khat and othes alcohol and combination there of,and never the less attempting to drive our automobiles. I am afraid that this isnt the doing of the Govt but of those greedy lawyers, along with those in the courts, who wanna get a piece of Teddy's fortune. Good Luck Teddy!

Author: Tanku
Wed May 7 07:55:24 2008

I do not understand why this is taken as a special issue and given this kind of special focus. Just a man who is suspect of murder is under arrest as it happens to any Ethiopian and he should wait in jail untill decission is given by the court. Whether this guy arranges a group of gang said to be fans should not make his case special and bias the process of law.

Author: pauloscyber
Tue Jun 3 14:42:13 2008

u do not understand why this is taken as a special issue? but let me tell u that this is a apecial issue cause 1.the trajedies that will be made by tje govt are under ? b/c the govt was their tring to collect signatures of its people to sue teddy by his songs. 2.he said he has not done that crime.... and other main reasons that make the case under?

Author: hel_dan
Fri Sep 5 18:42:14 2008

look, the reason this is a special case is because teddy afro is a singer and another thing, he did not do it!!!!!!! and we all know why he's in jail (it's b/c he's not liked by the gov't)(get it????) and if u don't know all this i guess ur in the dark my friend and u should go to where there is light) i'm sorry but it's b/c u seemed so rude and i turn out to be a major fan of teddy's

Author: bathy2009
Tue Dec 16 20:02:08 2008

WHAT THE HELL R U PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT??? HE KILLED HE DISRVES HIS PUNISHEMENT!! WE ALL LOVE HIM AND HE IS A GOOD SINGER....BUT HE IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS U PEOPLE MAKE HIM LOOK LIKE!!!! LEAVE THE GOVERNMENT ALONE THEY ARE JUST DOING THEIR JOB!!!!

Author: ethiopiaye
Wed Jun 18 12:53:23 2008

tedi is the king.at this time i wish i can be in place of his.almighty god will help him.

Author: tgkassam
Thu Aug 7 17:19:31 2008

He is not no King if he killed an innocent 18 year old kid.

Author: ethiopiaye
Wed Jun 18 12:53:31 2008

tedi is the king.at this time i wish i can be in place of his.almighty god will help him.

See all comments (11).


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