The Washington-based DLA Piper, a law firm specializing in representing genocidal dictators, looters and terrorists around the world, is once again trying to silence Ethiopian Review on behalf the drunkard Ethiopian/Saudi billionaire Al Amoudi who is looting Ethiopia in collaboration with the ruling tribal junta. It is puzzling that Al Amoudi makes such an effort to silence any story about Sara Al Amoudi while he is accused of so many other serious misdeeds and he rarely reacts to any of them. It seems Sara is getting under his skin.
The following is a letter by Mary E. Gately, a lawyer for DLA Piper:
Mr Elias Kifle
Publisher, Ethiopian Review
Re: July 15, 2010 Online Article Entitled: “Mohammed Al Amoudi’s daughter back in the news
Dear Mr Kifle:
We act for Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi and family.
We have seen the article on the website www.ethiopianreview.com dated 15 July 2010 and titled ‘Mohammed Al Amoudi’s daughter back in the news’ (“Article”).
The woman referred to in the article is not the daughter of our client, and the claim made by the Ethiopian Review that the woman in question is the allegedly estranged daughter of Ethiopian billionaire businessman Mohammed Al Amoudi is entirely false.
Further, the Article is defamatory.
The Ethiopian Review was put on notice by this firm earlier this year that the allegations that “Sara Al Amoudi” is our client’s daughter were false. At that time we requested that you remove those false and defamatory allegations from the Ethiopian Review website which you initially refused to do, although we note that the publication was subsequently removed by your internet service provider. Accordingly, the current publication by the Ethiopian Review of further false allegations that “Sara Al Amoudi” is the daughter of our client is entirely unacceptable and is malicious.
We hereby reserve all of our client’s rights and remedies in relation to the publication of the Article. As an interim measure, however, and without prejudice to our client’s rights, we require that you:
1. immediately cease and permanently desist from publishing the Article and/ or any part of it that alleges or suggests that the woman referred to in the Article is our client’s daughter.
2. immediately remove the Article from the Ethiopian Review website; and
3. Provide an undertaking not to further publish or disseminate in the future any thing that alleges or suggests that the woman referred to in the Article and/ or the “Sara Al Amoudi” identified in the Article, is our client’s daughter.
We await your urgent response.
Very truly yours,
Mary E. Gately
DLA Piper, LLP
500 Eighth Street, NW
Washington DC 20004
www.dlapiper.com
[email protected]
Tel: 202 799 4507
Fax: 202 799 5507
39 thoughts on “DLA Piper demands removal of Sara Al Amoudi story”
Elias,
I think you got under the skin of DLA Piper, I am wondering why they are so afraid of news that is in the open court in London. I guess they are trying to show how powerful they are, the fact that they can force your internet service provider to delete a story about this spoiled billionaire’s daughter.
It is an open secret that there are thousands of Saudi millionaires and billionaires who flaunt their wealth in the west and pretty much do what they please, specially sexual perversion and alcoholims. I have seen a few myself, they are hypocrites of the first order. They look and act as if they are stirct followers of their religion in the day time and practice hydonism at night, and when they get caught in the act they pay lobbying firms like DLA Piper to silence the truth about their hypocritical ways. They are a sick bunch with a lot of money and power.
Wow! these pieces of shits did not get it. Here in U.S.A there is what is called First Amendment. As lawyers you guys are you trying to prevent a US citizen from exercising his basic human right?? Now I am questioning if you goons are really lawyers. Alamudi is the foreign agent who is bribing the government of a rogue nation and looting its people. Et RE is simply transmitting a story which which was written some where in the world. You SOBs get off his back. It seems you are short of clients from those third worlders.
The story was in the London based Mail & Guardian. If they wanted, they can do that to the English weekly. ER simply posted an article that was already posted. So waht is the freaking deal – you Arab bastards
Well ER this DLA Piper, will do anything for money. Remember, most of its staff are pro Republican who also oppose Islam influennce, however in this case, they will take the money alamoudi is offering attacking the poor Ethiopian. How noble of them. When it comes to money for them, who cares about the value they have been fighting for. Haha. Take care of yourself. Let us hope the article you posted is true and legitimate, if not then you will have a problem. If true, take this issue to representatives, unfortunately, DLA has millions (by representing) such shady cases in order to empower themselves and then impose their issue on our senate and congress and therefore they mgiht have connections with senate and congress to stop you.
Wow that must have cost to get DLA Piper! How horrible, that no one is expressing about the sad event that this is for all concerned. Would have been great to solve the misunderstanding like a good old-ethiopian- by talking to a good ‘shemagile’on the corner of U street, why run to a lawyer- I can not see why he would pay so much for DLA Piper for something he could ‘come down to the street’ with. If it is a name sake issue, hope Ethiopian Review has done its due diligence.
Is this lobbying firm going to sue Huffington Post too?
The Story, essentially the same story, is posted on the web site of Huffington post.
Take a look:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/15/patrick-ribbsaeter-accuse_n_647215.html
Is Al Amoudi disowning his daughter?
For all I care he can have her killed -STONED- according to his religion- Satanic Verses
To hell with DLA Piper
Kkkkkkk .. Elias didn’t invent the story and therefore he can’t be liable. People at the DLA piper think Ethiopianreview is living in a lawless country like Ethiopia where authorities and rich people do what ever they want to do. There is law in America people!
Selfish firms such as DLA piper is one of the main causes why Africa, particularly Ethiopia remained to be undemocratic. As long as they get paid, they lie, lie, and lie on behalf of criminals.
Dear Mary E. Gately, Lawyer for DLA Piper,
What convincing evidence do you have Sara Al Amoudi is not the real daughter of your client, Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi? Is it not one of your duties as a good lawyer to present to our Ethiopian Review Editor a DNA blood sample test that proves Sara is not the real biological daughter of Al Amoudi? If you do that, then Elias Kifle will be subjected to removing the article as you have kindly requested. Other wise, we the readers of the Ethiopian Review magazine will demand Mr. Elias Kifle to continue publishing any future disgusting or pleasing stories that come out from the British court or media about the billionaire Al Amoudi and his daughter Sara.
Under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Elias Kifle has the right to publish any article he thinks is worth of publishing. I don’t think there is any well-known person in the Ethiopian history other than Muhammad Hussein Al Amoudi who deserves to be reminded through the media or his Imams that having too many wives and yet failing to take care of one of his own children is unethical in the Judeo-Christian faith. Has he raised his daughter properly, has he educated her the value of the Ethiopian Christian culture, and has he given her a lesson about the fear and love of God, his daughter Sara might have become like the real Biblical Sarah, who used to call her husband Abraham “my master” (Genesis 18:12). It seems he is neglecting her after she has exposed to the public his poor fatherly duty to his daughter, and now he wants to publicly denounce her that she is not his daughter. His act is just like the Ethiopian adage: “ጅብ ከሄደ ውሻ ጮኸ” (the dog barked after the hyena left). Mr. Al Amoudi and his attorney, Ms. Mary E. Gately, are now barking like a useless dog after the news about Sara has become public; Ms. Mary E. Gately, you cannot stop the story; it doesn’t matter how much money you have been paid. It is too late to stop the flood after the gate that holds the flood has been broken, and the devastating flood is free to find its own way and flow roughly or smoothly anywhere.
This is not the first time this a$$holes wrote a warning letter to Ethiopian Review. Go to the following link: http://horn-africa.blogspot.com/2010/02/why-is-saudi-billionaire-al-amoudi.html
What they didn’t know is that, we Ethiopians don’t care about some one elses business. As a reporter ER posted what ever was posted on a different news site. What is sickening is that every major city in Ethiopia is swamped with prostitution. It is more sickening to find out that the goverment in Ethiopia is not doing anything to alleviate the problem. Otherwise, as far as I am concerened, I don’t care what the daughter is going through right. Afterall, we should not forget that she has her dad’s genes also.
DLA Piper is a lie firm than a law firm.
Dear my old friend Elias,
You seemed to be getting on DLA Piper and through them too, on TPLF’s die-hard supporter Sheik Al Amoudin’s shaking and frightened nerves as a result of your reports that the DLA now shamelessly and indirectly said that Sara Al Amoudin is disowned by her own father for being an ordinary girl living her free life (though she has a Rolls Royce with a Driver paid by her Dad to safeguard his reputation. Isn’t it funny to learn that both TPLF & Al Amoudin are using the same Lawyers? All are paid by the Sheik hence TPLF is milking him as a Saudi Arabian bloody cow. Shame on us folks!
Despite his fake generosity and his failed attempt to bribe many educated individuals to silence us, I have never appreciated most of his deeds such as his bribing of genuine Ethiopian Muslims into becoming fanatic Muslims to be anti-Christians, his extravagant and expensive parties that he paid for his ex-girlfriends when they married other men and other concert nights where he was always seen as a shameless womaniser and drunk who was an insult to his religion and his country Saudi Arabia.
Having said that, as our London Friend Wondimu Mekonnen said, DLA’s latest cry is only an empty threat to only milk the filthy rich TPLF Sheik. They would not dare to go to the Court to stop the Free Press like Ethiopian Review who operates in a free and democratic country like the USA as they did in Ethiopia. Never, unless DLA Piper is also got baptised to become a TPLF too? It is obvious that no one in Ethiopian community including Elias Kifle would be scared of them anymore. Hence here are useful advices. 1st, let Elias create a Petition against DLA’s repeated illegal intimidation, harassments and threats of Ethiopian Review and all other TPLF critics.
I also think, Elias should seek professional (legal) advices to say enough is enough to those blood sucking dictator’s servants like DLA. He should be able to freely criticise anti-Ethiopia despots, heinous criminals, ruthless murderers, village bandits, public’s election vote thieves and also selfish and ruthless crooks that have controlled everything in Ethiopia.
Secondly, I advice Ato Elias to use a legal term or language, like allegedly (alleged, without prejudice and similar words and phrases when reporting things like that to protect yourself from any stupid accusation by DLA or others. Better not to report as being 100% sure or without mentioning a source. Third, never respond or deal with any threats like the letter above if sent by email but only those sent to you through the post written on Official Company Headed Paper. Last but not least, I also suggest that you display the photo of a DC Taxi or Minicab that carried DLA’s name and you know what I mean? It would be best to hit such bloodsuckers where it hurts. Otherwise, best seek advices.
Ethiopian struggle and strong unity can easily defeat the TPLF, the Saudi rich Sheik’s money power as our forefathers and ancestors did during the Italian war empty handed but bravery. Hence it is time that every Ethiopian (young or old) should wake up and united to save Ethiopia and those oppressed Ethiopians back home who have suffered enough.
Yes, Unity is Strength. United we Stand, but Divided We Fall as repeatedly proved in the past 20 years. Time to think, be wise, be patriotic and act!
I am with you with that Elias, all because it would make our struggle much stronger than before. And I strongly believe that (as I have repeatedly witnessed in many Political and other Support and other Committees too), we need more, different and also much better people to guide us to advance the just struggle to be able to defeat our enemies. Therefore, Let us start examining who is who, in this struggle? Elias’s plan about this matter during his debate with Abraha Belai (who used to be my strong admirer and supporter but later, he refused to post my articles all because I criticized his TPLF old friends. Therefore, Ato Elias’s suggestion about exposing the bloody rascals who were and or are nothing but obstacles should be appreciated and supported by us all. Frankly speaking, none of us want to be lead by power hungry sods and two-faced enemies.
Long live Mother Ethiopia and My Fellow Ethiopians of All Ages!
PS: Elias, I am looking forward for you to expose (as you promised) those who have been good-for-nothing but are in various parties, support committees and other political organisations, churches, community and other places that knowingly and or unknowingly disabled the struggle with their weaknesses and selfish plans.
May All Be As God Will. Amen!
Actually its my impression that the person claiming to be Sarah al Moudi as well as a female named Samara al Mutawakil are both Yemeni citizens using fraudulent passports. Samara is not the daughter of Ibarhim al Mutawakil. The more interesting aspect is that the Yemeni government is aware of it and woops, renewed the papers in 2002 I think it was. I have copies of the passports and other documents and correspondence. I never wrote about it because I cover political analysis of Yemen not individual cases of criminal activity. I just wanted to let you know that the lawyer may not be off base on this one.
regards,
Jane Novak
http://armiesofliberation.com
DLP Piper is saying: “The Ethiopian Review was put on notice by this firm earlier this year that the allegations that “Sara Al Amoudi” is our client’s daughter were false. At that time we requested that you remove those false and defamatory allegations from the Ethiopian Review website which you initially refused to do, although we note that the publication was subsequently removed by your internet service provider.”
That must be what they told their client. Otherwise, If the internet provider has removed the article, then why are we reading:
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/12511?
Elias, these guys are harassing you for the third time. Is there a legal case whereby you stop them from issuing such harassing letters?
This is like being pursued by the dictatorial regime of Ethiopia and harassed even in exile.
Thanks
Why don’t you mind you own neftgna business!
DLA Piper should educate their honorable client Al-Amoudi about the new world order’s monopoly and anti-thrust laws rather than trying to intimidate ER on some punk case like this one.
This same lobby firm has also send 2 of its personal to the European parliment before two years to discuss on behalf of Ethiopia with no knowledge of the topics await for them, and has also a contributi
by killing the bill that would have helpe
the Ethiopian peoples as the speaker of the house was a republican.Having said that we have to be aware that this so called law firm is working hard with oppreasors and dictators for money .
here is another link http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1294710/Model-Patrick-Ribbsaeter-attacked-Arabian-princess-lovers-chauffeur-split.html#ixzz0tltUE754 OR http://www.qatarliving.com/node/1185620
If DLA-Says so, she may or may not be from Al Maudin. The story need to be investigated.
The newspaper called her “Saudis Princess”. Is Al Maudlin from Saudis the most corrupt and trouble makers royal Family? I don’t think so.
He is born in Ethiopia-wollo from an Ethiopian Christian mother and a Yemeni Merchant whom became an Ethiopian citizen. Al Maudlin lived in Ethiopia until his late 30th and because of the tension in the country, he immigrated to Saudi. So, by blood he has nothing to do with Saudi. He is an Ethiopian born from Ethiopian mother and Yemeni father.
So, his daughter can’t be a Saudi Princess.
By the way, the woman looks dangerous under that masked batman uniform. You know what the batman likes teh most? Blood.
I am curious, is Sara related to Al Amoudi? I guess I am asking the wrong question here hehehehe
Hi Elias,
What the DLA Piper is doing is just ridiculous. It only shows DLA piper goes to great lengths to do anything for money. What they could not be able to comprehend once again is that we are in a bitter struggle with Al-Amoudi and the likes of him to save our country from corrupted rogue dictatorial regime strongly supported by Al-Amoudi, and any news linked and associated with him will be of interest for millions of people their lives at stake because of his support to the dictators and his corrupted investments. However, I share most of the suggestions forwarded by Dr. G Bekele above to stop the harassment once and for all if that is possible. I will be with you in this whatever direction you choose to pursue.
What a shame for for this lobbyist group who is representing Ethiopian billionaire to try threaten an independent media.
You are not the originator. Why not they read the link. It is exactly the same. Unless they are targeting Independent media like yours.
Don’t let the Sheik push you around through the arms of DLA piper or else you are going to set a bad precedent. The way you fight back better be effective though. It is going to be David v. Goliath; it is a glimpse of the future where wealthy foreigners and powerfull Ahzabs control Ethiopia. Vernor Jordan, the black lawyer and Clinton posse, spear headed the Al Amoudin v. USA Today case back in the day (1999), and, ever since, DLA Piper (the employer of Vernon Jordan) has been working indirectly for the Arabs just as British Petroleum (BP) secured the Pan Am bomber release in order to win Libyan oil. In the movie The Devil’s Advocate, the devil character (John Milton) played by Al Pachino, says “Lawyers are the devils ministry”, which in DLA Piper’s case is very true. Both the businessmen at BP and the lawyers at DLA Piper are the modern day slave trading wheelers and dealers, and who knows, grand children of Nazi’s and descendents of persecutors of the apostles, too. Elias, expose DLA to other news outlets, forward their threats to all medias. Some one will eventually pick it up and DLA would go down the way major Wall Street firms went down. After all it is Ethiopia that they are messing with. These foreign entities: Chaldeans,(southern Babylonians); Egyptians; Assyrians, Arabs, Persians etc. and their respective agents within have their specialities ranging from disinheriting and disfranchizing to looting, and gentile-izng. Through Isiah, the creator spoke, “Egypt is My people, Assyria My handiwork and Israel My inheritance/heritage”, which shows God’s fairness, but these entities, although they were sent to deliver justice and correct wrongs, they have gone too far, they are going for exticnction, which shows their evil nature.
you know how the rich only have power over the defenseless and bully. That is what is going on there. Why doesn’t Alamoudi and DLA did not stop the news posted in Great Britain? Alamoudi however may be more concerned about his reputation among Ethiopians in Ethiopia because he could face fierce resistance about looting Ethioia’s natural wealth with Meles and Co.
The other issue is that as someone made a good point above, Alamoudi and TPLF (Meles) could brainwash the DLA Piper the issue could be security threat to Ethiopia, because when ever Meles and Alamdoudi are threatened by Ethiopia they go to the West scaring them that this would destablize Ethiopia because if Alamdoudi and Meles who are sucking the wealth of Ethiopians are affected then there will be no one to lead the country and therefore Ethiopia could become like Somalia. The fact of the matter is that the West may or may not know it is Meles and Co. that is destablizing the Horn. Of course the West and DLA could support these looters for their full support of the free market, sharing the piece of pie from the looters.
Let us not forget, Alamoudi can have everything he wants after all he has money. Remember Clinton got million or billions of money from Alamoudi under the so called Clinton Foundation. Clinton accepted this money giving Alamoudi and Meles and Co. the green light to abuse and loot Ethiopia. Oh yes, money is the most important thing and value and morality is no longer on the table. If only Americans are aware of such things…
Yohanness, Get your facts straight unless you are bought and sent to spread your boss’s lies. You said
Yohannes says:
“If DLA-Says so, she may or may not be from Al Maudin.
The newspaper called her “Saudis Princess”. Is Al Maudlin from Saudis the most corrupt and trouble makers royal Family? I don’t think so.”
You think he is not corrupt?
” Al Maudlin lived in Ethiopia until his late 30th and because of the tension in the country, he immigrated to Saudi. So, by blood he has nothing to do with Saudi.”
Yohannes, you are Laughable and ridicules.
“He is an Ethiopian born from Ethiopian mother and Yemeni father.”
“So, his daughter can’t be a Saudi Princess.”
Go read Fourbes Magazine.
Mohammed Al Amoudi
Age: 61
Net Worth: $8.0 bil (in 2008)
Country Of Citizenship: Saudi Arabia
Residence: Jeddah , Saudi Arabia, Middle East & Africa
Marital Status: married, 8 children
OR read
A brief biography of Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali Al Amoudi:-
Net worth: Estimated at $10 billion in 2010 by Forbes
Yohannes, You guy In just 2 years increased his net worth from 8 billion to 10 billion. One billion a year. How?? STOLE it from the Ethiopian people)
Birthday: 21st July 1946 – Age: 64
Country of Citizenship: Saudi Arabia
Residence: Jeddah
Marital Status: Married with 8 children
Birthday: 21st July 1946 – Age: 64
Here is his solution:
On July 21 – his birthday, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi and family can have Sara Al Amoudi killed -by STONING HER- according to his religion- Satanic Verses
Blood sucker DLA Piper, you better stay out of Ethiopian affairs. You better stop preying on the blood and flesh innocnet Ethiopians.
Elias you did great, keep it up
Dear Elias,
I agree with Brother Dr. G Bekele well thought advice. These faceless people have to show their client that they are doing something about it and in the meantime keep ringing their cash register. You don’t deserve to spend your very valuable time in court with these smelly, filthy scums of the earth. What they have to do is take this lady to court and prove her wrong. As long as she claims to be the daughter of the Sheik, anyone can report exactly what she is telling using legal cover words such as ‘alleges’ or ‘allegedly’. Otherwise, will someone tell DLA get a job?
Let the Dictators Legal Assistance group show a DNA proof to the court that this rotten-rich spoiled girl who buys Ferrari and Rolex Watches to her boyfriends and driven around by a chauffeur in one of the most expensive cars is not a daughter of Almoudi. Case closed! Period!
Taza Bet;
You can say and laugh like a crazy individual. But the truth must be kept as it is.
I know his family very well. He was born in Wollo, the town of Weldaya. He is grown up in Ethiopia the same way other Ethiopians in his era did. He left the country about 1960+(EC).
His mother tong is Amharic. His culture, tradition, custom and the likes is Ethiopian.
He became a Saudi citizenship for business reason and the same way as any citizens from Ethiopia do in USA, Europe, Canada and elsewhere. If he had an Ethiopian passport, all doors he has keys mainly internationally would be closed to him. And that would be bad for his business.
In USA u have Ethiopian-American. In Europe; you have a British, German and the likes citizen despite the person is originally let say from Ethiopia.
The Al.amoudin story with Saudi citizenship is the same. He is an Ethiopian. Who are you? What kind passport do you have?
Your copy paste is wrong and misleading and outdated. He is not 61 years old, he is much older. I know it. But you find out. Stop bulling and Gossip like an old backward woman. Or Are you that person?
wow, these DLA piper morons would do anything for money eh?
But Elias if you are not the original publisher, you can’t be held liable. Ask these morons to prove that this girl in the hijab is not the daughter of their client. YOU DO KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, you don’t need advice on how to protect yourself.
I can tell you are getting a lot of attention from many Eritreans, Ethiopians, Somalians, Dijubotians and now this Saudi billionaire.
DLA Piper is an immoral firm that would do anything for money. They represent the worst of the worst, for them it is all about the money.
The Sheikh is embezzling Ethiopia in collaboration with its dictators and the money embezzled from Ethiopia is used to harass Ethiopians.
The daughter is quoted as his daughter (simun kes yitrawna simun alterawm)by the wonderful British media, if they have the gut let Pipers go there and try. Elias is just the messenger of the story, if you have the guts go to the source.
The pipers, please teach him some family planning too, he has sons and daughters in every corner of the world, he might forget them, but the children has the right to claim him as a father, they also have a right to be drunk prostitutes.
Wow! Don’t give up Elias Kifle. Down with Alamoudi and Meles!
Elias you are one of the most hero person that we have. You always are doing the great job without any fear and keep up the great job even though the so called Millionaire Al Moudi and his intimate criminal, terrorist and racist friends TPLF are keep trying to intimidate you even in the USA where freedom of speech and other democratic rights are respected.
Tell Al Amoudi and his TPLF gangster friends that this is America where they cannot harass, abuse, jail or kill individuals as they want to just because someone has a different opinion from them as they do in Ethiopia. We all know that Ethiopia is a country with out rule of law. One of the worst dictatorship in the world is Ethiopia where a few racist and criminal elements of TPLF are above the rule where they can beat and kill anyone in the street. In Ethiopia you can be thrown in jail for unlimited time if the accusers are the TPLF racist group one cant find the elements of his/her crime.
Had this been in Ethiopia, Ato Elias would of been hanged upside down by the Weyane. Almoudi is part and parcel of the TPLF gnagsters. What he does not know is, in America we can say and exercise our freedom as we wish.
As for DLA, they are putting their two cents worth of opinion to get paid. They are worthless bunch of idiots.
what we need to do is call this stupid bitch and tell her we will take her ass to curt for the massacre and injustice endured by This TPLF Cad-ere she moneyly adore to represent .
We might not c eye to eye for number of wrong reasons but we will not let any harm come to your way ….
Eskinder / DC_Amhara
message to DLA
Your government wants to control the world politics and economy by force and you want to control the free press by force. Your government, melse malelit, al amoudi will be soon kicked out from the horn of africa like you have been kicked out from most latin america countries. we will be soon be the owner of our resources not you and go to hell.
Sorry the other draft article was sent inadvertenly. This is the final, and I did not mean to hide my name either.
Selam Elias,
I have followed this news since it became an issue due to the involvement of DLA Piper that believes it has a powerful legal arm to interfere in your business and is also questioning your constitutional rights. It is doing so in the name of defending their client and denying the story you published. Apparently, the Firm considers it a slander to the good name of their client. They are paid to do that and they do it to justify the costs of their services. That is one fact we may understand. We should not be surprised about their demand and legal threats DLA Piper is making against you. It is a common practice. We read such matters all the time. However, it does not mean Elias has to satisfy their demand. Of course, I am not in any way giving a legal advice but sharing the general idea we learned from observations. Only the court would determine the truth, and DLA Piper has to establish the fact that Sheik Alamudi is not the father or in any way related to Sara in the court of the law. I believe the burden of proof is upon DLA Piper and it goes beyond the publication of the news by Elias since the story has become an international controversy and DLA Piper by virtue of its legal threats has helped the matter to become a sensational story denying the perception of people that actual events created. There is a need to sort the criminality of the matter by going into the root to first to establish the non-relationship between the father and daughter or technically speaking between the two unrelated subjects. An expert may advice Elias to the contrary and put the burden of proof upon Elias instead. We have to find the correct legal argument in order to put the issue in the right perspective. However distasteful and unpopular are the actions of DLA Piper to American-Ethiopians and Ethiopians, they care less because at the end of the day, it is the Sheik and Meles/TPLF that matters to them and we should realize their professional engagement and pursuit of huge financial gains. Here in America, the law of the land governs us, and that is the bottom line.
Suppose DLA Piper is proved wrong and its premises were unfounded after all these threats against an innocent citizen who is engaged in lawful activities, the legal consequences to the firm may be far reaching. The firm may be forced to shut down (a little exaggeration) for knowingly misrepresenting facts and obstructing the public to know the truth and obliterating Elias’s good fortune to make millions of dollars from his publishing business. Elias would be feasting for the rest of his life! Not only Elias, many of his fans will be celebrating around the globe. Again, an expert on the law must jump in and educate us who is right from the perspective of the laws and who should do what and who should not do what before the Court does. I suspect DLA Piper will just calm down or it may make an International controversy out of nothing. I would have never paid any attention to the news and even waste my time writing this note had it not been for the news and controversy that DLA Piper generated by its action.
I believe every African is anxiously waiting until the US Attorney starts the actual investigation of the ongoing corruptions in many African nations by their leaders and accomplices that is polluting the world. I believe the investigation will implicate many who enabled these corrupt leaders to expand their corrupting practices into the democratic societies and systems. It is like aiding a killer not defending in court to appear in public innocent knowing that he/she is a killer. It looks to me there is a direct link between an action suppressing the truth by one entity and an actual corruption committed by any leader or leaders of governments. If the investigation finds the leaders of in Ethiopia corrupt and prosecute them, it will be interesting to see where DLA Piper would stand. Would they continue representing the regime in Ethiopia or take a quick exit claiming conflict of interest? Again, an expert on the law may jump in and give us a better outlook on this matter. However, I presume DLA Piper will be able to craft its way out as it did its way in should this be the case.
One reporter by name Jane Novak attempted to give us a good advice based on her first hand info that Sara is or may be a fraudulent (criminal) person who falsely claimed that she is the daughter of Sheik Alamoudi. I consider that a slander to the good name of the princesses or an ordinary woman. She asserted that Sara and another woman are Yemenis by citizenship, but the passports they carried are fraudulent. Jane told us that she has copies of the passports and documents to prove it. Something is extraordinarily strange here. Jane said she did not want to report about it because according to her: “I never wrote about it because I cover political analysis of Yemen not individual cases of criminal activity.” She added: “I just wanted to let you know that the lawyer may not be off base on this one.” Jane may a hoax herself! If she was a political analysis of Yemen, not individual cases of criminal activity, how on Earth she put her hands on this criminal case and knew about it? There is more disturbing thing about Jane. If she thinks this is a good info to the readers, why is she not sharing it to the larger public since the issue has become a controversy of global scale? Based on the statements Jane Novak made, I have concluded that she is a hoax playing a little game to thwart the development of the truth. I would be very interested to find out if she is in any way connected with this issue either through DLA Piper or indirectly through their clients. Jane Novak is a hoax and she has to prove to us she is not.
The leader of Ethiopia has stated that he is re-resuming a good relation with the United States of America. I do not believe that would stop the US Attorneys from going forward and dismantling corruptions around the globe because it has become clear that the practices/corruption has indirectly and directly impacted the free World and their democratic societies like Americans. The economic, social and political relationship and cooperation of nations with America are becoming vast and complex and corruption that may be rooted in Ethiopia, for instance will have a ripple effect on societies all over the World. America cannot build economic relationship with societies riddled by corruption. America has to eradicate corruption for its own good if it wishes to build democratic societies and democratic systems in countries she has vested economic, social and political interests.
I also noticed that there were some mentions about the origin and background of Sheik Alamoudi. He is an Ethiopian by nationality and origin just like any of us are who grew up in Ethiopia and left the country. Alamoudi, finished his High School in Wollo, and immigrated to Saudi Arabia where he lived, worked hard and prospered. His mother is an Ethiopian from around Woldiya, Wollo. His father is from Yemen who lived in Ethiopia for much of his life. Alamoudi’s grandfather was a rich man who made fortune in the oil business. It is reported, someone may correct me that his grandfather with whom he lived was impressed by his obedience and general character, that unique cultural attributes ofEthiopians, liked him and trusted him so much that he gave much of his wealth to him when he died. Alamoudi wisely used the money creating joint ventures with the rich Saudi royals who also liked and trusted him and allowed him to be close to them. Alamoudi’s fortunes and wealth sky rocketed as his ventures in oil, real estate and armaments began to grow in many continents. He finally returned to the country of his birth.
I have talked to Dr. Tilahun Gessesse about Alamoudi with other people present. I won’t write everything here, but about Ethiopian songs, food and of course women (my observation) Alamoudi has incredible love for them and it is true. I do not want to say more about Alamoudi even if there are good to Ethiopians or Ethiopia, because those would overshadow, in the minds of my readers, I believe, the overwhelming negative roles he has played and he is playing that the people clearly see. He has been misused by the regime and that has hurt the Ethiopian people who are sacrificing everything including their lives to bring change and introduce democracy to Ethiopia. Let us not forget the fact that Isaias also targeted Alamoudi when Alamoudi dismantled the factories he had built in Asmara and moved them to Ethiopia after the Badme war against the threats and warnings of Isaias who wanted him to keep his business in Eritrea. There was no way Alamoudi could do that and no matter what the threats were, Meles would have confiscated all of his fortunes in Ethiopia. Isaias was hurt economically perhaps more politically by Alamoudi’s action and there were incidents that Isaias tried to damage and destroy Alamoudi and his wealth in Ethiopia. Meles interfered and defended Alamoudi from Isaias’ plot to implicate Alamoudi with Al-Qaida. Meles became the God father of Alamoudi after he protected/saved him from the axes of the International policing forces. From then on, Alamoudi has been nothing but, a puppet and a political tool. Ethiopians have every reason to despise him as much as they despise the dirty singer and the president of the university. The top leaders of the regime are known to have deposited large amounts of looted money in foreign banks. The patriarch who spent millions on his bronze statue to the dismay of all Christians was caught depositing lots of money in foreign banks. He and others like him will be subject to the investigation by the US Attorneys, I believe when time comes. Many transnational companies make money in Ethiopia and at the end of each harvest or production season, they transfer the profits to where ever they came from. What they leave behind are pollutions and ever impoverished farmers and laborers. There are good companies however, who buy Ethiopian products and they are essential to the economy of the country and their economic relationship must flourish. I am not sure if it is true, however, someone had told me that Alamoudi reinvests the profits he made in Ethiopia in Ethiopia. That is good, but there is a complaint that he buys every factory he finds in every town and city, and so, swallowing small fishes and impoverishing small businesses. That is too bad and a serious problem especially in a country that is dependent on small businesses. There is also complaint that Alamoudi is being used as a conduit for the wealth going out of the country and these wealth come from the nation’s natural resources such as gold and other mineral which Alamoudi is running.
The fact that Alamoudi was born somewhere in Yeju (Woldiya) and grew up in Ethiopia is not a factor to debate (you can see his High School records), but his present roles are. Lidetu is from Wollo, God forgive Wollo, and so was Walelign Mekonnen whose political philosophy Meles (TPLF) used to curve and mold Ethiopia into a land of Nations of some Eighty Nationalities each aspiring to become another Eritrea!
I know something that I would like to share with my fellow Ethiopians. When things turn around and the Ethiopian people become the supreme power in the country, Solomon will cry uncontrollably and he would run, fall on the ground and grab the feet of Ethiopians to kiss. He will cry like baby one never heard and he will beg for their mercy and forgiveness. Every Ethiopian will forgive and forget. I feel bad thinking that may happen. But, unlike today, I am afraid I will change and I have to. All the cowards (kehadiwoch) will cry and beg for mercy, Ethiopians will forgive and forget because they will be too busy enjoying freedom and prospering by each minute to think about the miserable that are now singing and dancing in our faces.
Perhaps America will also change making it too difficult and illegal to serve looters sharing the loots in the name of legal services! DLA Piper may be in good business today, but if it is found that they have been assisting looters and sharing the loot, they too will be begging for forgiveness, but that may be too much to ask for in America. There is no such culture in America. I understand the fact that lawyers defend criminal in the court of law. I am not sure if DLA Piper is defending any known looters and criminals at this time. I cannot say they are assisting criminals and we do not know until the investigation determines the good and the bad leaders in Africa. I believe DLA Piper has right to engaged in their professional activities making fortunes, and the same goes to Elias. They have good clients who are also potentially a prospective defendant. We Ethiopians have also priceless clients –Ethiopia and Ethiopians. DLA Piper may be making legal threats against Elias and thereby against Ethiopians around the world. I wish I was an expert on the law to guide Elias to prosecute while defending his himself!