The Law of Criminal Informant in Ethiopia

Many jurisdictions use criminal informants –suspects or defendants who provide evidence in return to a charge or a sentence benefit– to investigate and prosecute mainly organized crimes. Ethiopia has also embraced this investigation and prosecution tool with respect to some selected crimes. This article examines and explicates the legal framework on criminal informant in the context of four proclamations governing corruption, terrorism, trafficking and smuggling in persons, and witness and whistle blowers protection. I argue that the law suffers considerable limitations and gaps in articulating complete, clear and coherent standards for informant selection, and consistent concessions and benefits, as well as in terms of instituting adequate guarantees and meaningful enforcement mechanisms to protect defendants against the blemishes of the informant system. Key terms Criminal informant, Evidence, Substantial evidence, Concessions, Safeguards, Witness protection, Ethiopia