In a case that has gripped the local community and raised serious questions about prison security protocols, several correctional officers in Ethiopia have been sentenced for their role in a bizarre escape plot. The incident, which unfolded at the Federal Prison High Security Center in Gelan City, involved a scheme where inmates were smuggled out of the facility hidden inside a waste disposal truck.
The escape took place on June 29, 2025 , when two high-profile inmates, identified as Biniyam Kahsay and Daniel Goytom, successfully breached the facility’s perimeter. Rather than scaling walls or digging tunnels, the duo utilized a far more “disposable” method. With the active cooperation of the guards on duty, they were concealed inside a large waste container (Roto) and driven past security checkpoints under the guise of routine garbage collection.
An intensive investigation into the breach revealed that the escape was not a lapse in vigilance, but a calculated act of collusion. Three police officers were identified as the primary facilitators of the plot: Sergeant Adam Shibru, Deputy Sergeant Mengesha Degefa, and Assistant Sergeant Lijalem Teme. Authorities discovered that the officers had bypassed standard inspection procedures to ensure the “human cargo” remained undetected.
The case was brought before the Gelan City Court, where the prosecution presented evidence of corruption and a gross dereliction of duty. The legal proceedings highlighted the irony of the situation, questioning whether the officers viewed their charges as “humans or trash” when they chose to pack them into a refuse bin to bypass the law. The court emphasized that such actions pose a significant threat to public safety and undermine the integrity of the Ethiopian justice system.
On February 24, 2026 , the court handed down its verdict. All three officers were found guilty of the charges leveled against them. The presiding judge noted that while the method of escape was unusual, the breach of trust was a serious offense that demanded a custodial sentence to deter future misconduct within the ranks of the correctional service.
Each of the three officers was sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of 1,000 Birr. While some local observers suggested the sentences were light given the gravity of the escape, the court maintained that the penalties were aligned with current sentencing guidelines for the specific charges of corruption and negligence proved during the trial.
Following the sentencing, regional prison authorities have reportedly ordered a review of security measures at the Gelan facility, specifically focusing on the monitoring of service vehicles entering and exiting the grounds. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges Ethiopia faces in maintaining institutional integrity and ensuring that those tasked with upholding the law do not become the ones helping others break it.