Police Release Tedi Afro On 50,000 Br Bail
Addis Fortune (Addis Ababa)
November 7, 2006
By Wudineh Zenebe
Renowned singer Tewodros Kassahun, aka Tedi Afro, was released on bail Saturday afternoon after being held in detention by Police since Friday morning for allegedly leaving the scene of an accident.
The detention followed the death of 18-year-old Degu Yibelte on the night of November 2, 2006, on Taitu Street that leads from the Grand Palace to the Sheraton Addis.
Police sources told Fortune that a man claiming to be taxi driver called the police and gave the plate number of a BMW that had allegedly caused the accident. A car with the same number later collided with a concrete barricade in the CMC area near Lucy Academy. The sources said that the car was registered under Tedi Afro's name.
Tedi appeared at the municipality court near Mexico Square on Friday, during which police requested extra time for investigation, which was granted. After passing one day in custody with the Addis Abeba Police Commission, Tedi Afro was released on bail for 50,000 Br.
The deceased was a street dweller who had come from Gojjam to live with his uncle, Tamiru Terefe, in the Shiro Meda area in Kebele 18 of the Gulele District. His blind uncle told Fortune that Degu moved out to live in the streets after the two disagreed over the young man's drinking habit. Tamiru said that Degu still continued to visit him once or twice a week after they had separated.
Tamiru and his family learned of Degu's death late Friday morning. They collected the body from Menelik Hospital and buried it at Kuskuam Mariam Church in the Entoto area. They begged for 300 Br to cover hospital, transport and burial expenses, according to Tamiru.
Sources close to Tedi said that he denied causing the accident, saying that he was not the type of person to hit-and-run. The Addis Abeba Traffic Police Main department has declined to give any official information before the investigation was completed.
A source in the department told Fortune, however, that there was no evidence pointing to Tedi. The source said that police were trying to find the person who claimed to be a taxi driver and tipped the Police about the accident; Police hope to elicit useful information from that source.
The Ethiopian Criminal Code says that a driver who hits a person to their death and drives more than 15m will be considered to have committed homicide.
The singer has released three albums and a number of singles; he is known to address historical and political issues in his songs as well as love.
Source: Addis Fortune
