Addis Ababa, October 21 (WIC) – The two Swedish nationals accused of entering Ethiopia illegally and aiding and abetting a terrorist group admitted to court entering the country without proper documentation but pleaded not guilty to prosecutors’ charge.
Martin Schibbye, who turned 31 this week, and Johan Persson, 29, were captured with ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Front) fighters after an ambush by government troops on July 1 which left 15 of the terrorist group’s fighters dead.
The two Swedish nationals, dressed in black suits, appeared at the third criminal bench of the Federal High Court yesterday along side two of the captured ONLF fighters.
“I entered the country without proper documentation, for this I am guilty and I apologize the Ethiopian government,” Schibbye said.
He claimed he entered the country to do a journalistic job with his photographer colleague Persson as he denied charges of aiding and abetting the terrorist group.
“We did not entered the country with the intention of destabilizing the country,” Persson told the court.
Prosecutors accuse the two Swedes with as having close ties with the rebel group. Before entering Ethiopia in July, the Swedes have met with ONLF spokesperson in London and have contacted senior leaders of the terrorist group travelling to Kenya, Somalia and Mogadishu, prosecutors alleged in the charge.
Two of the ONLF fighters implicated with the Swedes also pleaded not guilty to prosecutors’ charge. However, one of the accused admitted being a member of the group labeled as terrorist by the House of Peoples’ Representatives.
The case is now adjourned to November 1 and the prosecutors are expected to present their evidence including a video and audio cassettes.