Diagnosing Corruption in Ethiopia - Ethiomedia

362 Diagnosing Corruption in Ethiopia
Table 8.1 (continued)
Risk Area 6: Theft of Equipment
International experience Typical international risk: High
6b. False entries in accounts to conceal theft by public officials
An employee responsible for warehouse records falsifies store records to conceal theft by the
employee, the employee’s accomplices, or influential officials.
In Ethiopia Current risk in Ethiopia: Low
This is a low area of perceived risk in Ethiopia in terms of the total value of stolen equipment,
although it is a high-risk area in terms of the number of individual incidents.
6a. Theft of equipment from warehouse or other facility
An FEACC report states that theft of equipment is a high risk, particularly from the ETC’s warehouse.
The report recommends that improvements be made to the stock control system to ensure that the
correct equipment is delivered and that equipment does not go missing.
6b. False entries in accounts to conceal theft
The same FEACC report comments that there is a high figure in the ETC’s accounts for “goods
in transit” and considers that, in reality, some of these goods may have gone missing. It also
comments that there was previously a problem with theft of subscriber identity module (SIM)
cards but that this has now been solved by activating the cards only once they are legally purchased.
Interviewees noted the following:
• The risk of theft depended on the commodity. Much of the high-value equipment
purchased by the ETC is specialist equipment that could be used only in establishing
a network. This is not considered to be at high risk. The risk of theft rises according to
how easily resellable the items are. For example, a theft of 15 computers from the
ETC’s warehouse was reported.
• Apparent theft may, in some cases, be the result of inadequate control and documentation
rather than corruption involving public officials.
Risk Area 7: Providing Telecoms Services to the Public
International experience Typical international risk: Low
Internationally, this is an area of low risk in terms of total value. Typical areas of such risk
include the following:
7a. Extortion against members of the public by network operator’s employees to supply
telecoms services such as Internet broadband lines or SIM cards
A technician working for the network operator may refuse to provide the physical connection
to a fixed line in the house of a member of the public, or may refuse to repair a defective connection,
unless he or she receives a bribe or a facilitation payment.
7b. Bribery by members of the public of network operator’s employees to use the network
operator’s internal test password to make free calls
7c. Bribery by members of the public of network operator’s employees to give other illegal
or preferential access to telecoms services
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