Abstract:
The right to trial within a reasonable time has been protected without discrimination under the
international and regional human rights. This rights also recognized in many countries
constitution and in their domestic laws. Ethiopia is among the countries which give recognition
to the right to trial within a reasonable time in its own constitution. This research investigated
the legal and practical analysis of the right to speedy trial of accused person with respect to
corruption crime; a case of central Gondar high court. For this purpose, qualitative research
methodology was employed in collecting and analyzed data. The data was collected from
interview and semi structure interview conducted with defendants of corruption crime, judges,
public prosecutors and investigator police and field observation. In field observation the
researcher examined the length of files and adjournment reasons, and the feelings of the accused
regarding to the court treatment about them. The respondents are selected purposively.
International and regional human rights instrument, national laws, journals, books, articles,
other materials related to the topic also analyzed in the study.
The study reveals that the causes of the delay of speedy trial right such as reasons related with
the court; reasons related with the public prosecutor; reasons related with the police
officer/investigator; reasons related with the accused himself and reasons related with other
bodies are the main challenges that affect the right to speedy trial of accused person with respect
to corruption crime; case of central Gondar high court.
Based on the findings, the study more importantly recommended for the concerned government
body to take positive action for the effective protection of the right to speedy trial of accused
person with respect to corruption crime. Besides, it recommended the central Gondar high court
and the regional Supreme Court to play their roles for the effective implementation of the right to
speedy trial of accused person with respect to corruption crime. Finally, it recommended the
ethics and anti corruption commission (Now The Regional Office of Attorney General), police
commission, regional prison administration, and the legislative body the way how to take
measures to minimize and avoid the challenges of the delay of the rights of accused persons with
respect to corruption crime.
