By Sara Castaldini

In its February 2008 newsletter, VEGA (Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance) announced a business project in Ethiopia supported by USAID (paid for by American tax payers). According to the newsletter (PAGE 3), VEGA initiated the first joint venture factory between an American investor (Victor Ozeri) and a local Ethiopian business woman (Lily Bertu). The two were introduced by Addis Alemayehou, Chief of Party (COP) of the VEGA Ethiopia project.

What happened next is truly scandalous and shameful. Lily Betru, who brags to foreigners that she is the best friend of the first lady of Ethiopia and a close friend of the Prime Minister, proved to the unsuspecting American businessman that she is also above the law. Within 4 short months, she orchestrated a vile accusation against the successful and respected businessman, used a her 28-year old son to physically attack and intimidate him, bribed a police man to put him in an Ethiopian jail, and finally managed to chased him out of Ethiopia without his money.

Mr. Ozeri, 55, a native New Yorker and the father of three children, who had just sold two companies doing a combined sales of $100 Million U.S. Dollars annually before moving to Africa to start his new venture, was robbed of his Ethiopian investment in daylight.

Below is Mr. Ozeri’s letter to the public and the media. You may contact him directly at 917-5961982.

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Dear Friends of Ethiopia;

With deepest regret I report to you my very unfortunate incident of my investment in Ethiopia; I moved there in January and was so committed to my cause that I bought a house to take up permanent residence in Addis Ababa.

I had hoped to bring thousands of jobs to the Ethiopian people. I had hoped that we could create the beginnings of a previously unknown prosperity for the Ethiopian people… Just as we did in China for so many years.

Unfortunately, my partner, Lily Betru, and her husband, Dr Getachew Betru, head of Ethiopian Railway, and son Michael Asfaw, turned out to be the “problem” rather than the “solution” for Ethiopia. Within 4 months of starting the business:

– All of my machinery and equipment were stolen

– I was locked out of my own factory

– 9 million birr investment gone

– Personal legal documents, and business documents all stolen by my partner… including the documents for the ownership of the home I bought in Addis Ababa, and even photos of my deceased parents

– And the worst of all… my Ethiopian partner is attempting to bring down my NGO where I have fed, clothed, and educatd hundreds of street children for the last 6 years (in an attempt to cover up her crimes).

– My so called partner bribed the chief inspector of the LAFTO police station. I was subject to arrest, detained in a police station, and had to fake a heart attack to get myself out of jail and flee Ethiopia the same night!

Read my letter below to the Investment Minister of Ethiopia. I had so much hope for this country. But now I have tasted why most of Africa is doomed to fail. Because the rich (like Lily Betru and her family) care nothing about the poor of their country. It is always about power and how much money they can steal.

I am back in New York with a profound sadness and deep disappointment. I apologize to all those I misled that it was possible to transform Ethiopia. This dream I had is now shattered. I don’t even know if I can ever go back to the country I have come to love.

With Sadness,
Victor Ozeri

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To: The Honorable Abi Woldemeskel
Director General, Ethiopian Investment Agency

Dear Ato Abi,

Thank you for the meeting with me in Addis Ababa. Unfortunately, I am no longer in Ethiopia. After I spoke to you, an incident occurred in which I tried to enter my own factory and was attacked by Lily Betru’s son (Michael Asfaw) in his attempt to stop me from entering the factory I legally own.

After the attack on my person, I went to the Lafto Police Station to ask help from the police so that I could enter the factory I own. Within 10 minutes of making my complaint, without my knowledge, the police inspector called his friend Lily Betru to come to his office.

Before I know it, Lily, her husband and son are in the police station screaming about me in Amharic to the police inspector. They all speak English, but still carried on in Amharid, although I speak very little and objected several times. I attempted to explain to the officer that I am a good man that takes care of many poor children in Addis for many years. The next thing I know, the police inspector is screaming that my NGO is just a cover for a place for me to engage in sex with children!

This officer knows nothing about me. Conducted no investigation, and asks me no questions. But tells me he is going to detain me, and attempts to move me into a jail cell like a common criminal. It is quite obvious at this point that Lily has bribed this policeman and I knew I could not win.

I became very frightened of the idea of being in an Ethiopian jail. In the police station, I became ill.

I am 55 years old. I have never had a problem with the law. I have invested 6 years of my life taking care of the poor children of Addis Ababa, spending close to 1 million birr annually of my personal funds to feed, educate, and nurture these children.

Now, in the poorest attempt to justify their fraud and theft of my factory, Lily and her criminal family are accusing me of being a pedophile! (a man who has sex with children), the very same children that I have personally taken to America for life saving medical surgery.

I repeat Lily’s disguesting lie without hesitation nor worry. The accusation is completely baseless. I have over 100 girls whose lives I have saved. I welcome anyone to interview these children or their parents about who I am in their lives. I am a loved and respected man that has served your country for many years. Lily and her family have made this up as some flimsy justification to defraud me of commercial investment of 3.75 million birr. (Not to mention they have stolen the documents for the 4.2 million birr home I purchased in Megenanya, so I cannot even properly register the home and pay the transfer tax).

Iam sitting here in my garden in New York with a heavy heart and deep sadness. It is hard to grasp that after six years of dedicating my life to helping the children of Ethiopia, and then further dedicating myself to the people of Ethiopia by building my own factory there, that I was forced to flee the country after threats were made to my personal safety.

I am an honorable and trustworthy businessman. I will use what ever legal means available to me to protect my good name and bring these people to justice.

Beneath this letter is an accurate recap of all that has gone on with my Ethiopian investment. Thank you for your attention to this matter and I hope that you can demonstrate that there is a rule of law in Ethiopia and these terrible people will be brought to justice.

With truth and sincerity.
Victory Ozeri
Founder: Victor and Lilu Bag and Apparel Makers PLC.

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I NOW SWEAR TO YOU THAT THESE ARE THE EXACT FACTS OF WHAT HAS OCCURRED WITH MY PARTNERSHIP WITH LILY BETRU.

1) IN NOVEMBER 2007, I AGREED TO FORM A PARTNERSHIP WITH LILY BETRU FOR A BAG AND APPAREL MANUFACTURING BUSINESS. BY JANUARY 2008, LILY LAND I HAD SIGNED AN AGREEMENT THAT STATED THAT WE WOULD BE EQUAL PARTNERS. FURTHERMORE, IN A SIGNED AGREEMENT, IT STATED THAT VICTOR WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE SALES AND MARKETING OF THE COMPANY OUTSIDE ADDIS ABABA. I WOULD ALSO BRING ALL OF THE EXPERTISE NEEDED TO RUN THE FACTORY. I DID ALL OF THIS AND KEPT MY WORD.

2) LILY AGREED IN WRITING THAT SHE WOULD BE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE FACTORY, SUPPLYING A LOYAL WORK FORCE, AND WOULD BE THE IN-COUNTRY MANAGER FOR THIS PROJECT.

3) IN FACT, LILY MISLED ME AND HAS NO SKILLS TO RUN A FACTORY. FURTHERMORE, SHE HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO LEARN HOW TO RUN THE FACTORY AND HAS BEEN LITTLE HELP OTHER THAN HER POLITICAL CONNECTIONS AND THE FACT THAT SHE OWNED THE BUILDING.

4) IN MY ORIGINAL DISCUSSIONS WITH LILY, I ADVISED HER THAT THE COST TO GET THIS OPERATION OFF THE GROUND WOULD BE CLOSE TO ONE MILLION USD (OR ABOUT 4.5 MILLION BIRR EACH WOULD BE NEEDED TO FUND THE COMPANY OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. SHE SAID… NO PROBLEM ! SINCE MY ARRIVAL IN ADDIS ON JANUARY 3RD, I CONTINUALLY ASKED LILY WHEN WE WOULD FUND THE COMPANY, BUT TO NO AVAIL.

5) FINALLY, AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, LILY INFORMED ME THAT THE ITALIAN GENTLEMAN WHO SOLD HER SOME ITALIAN KNITTING MACHINES HAD CHEATED HER OUT OF A QUARTER MILLION USD AND THAT SHE HAD NO MONEY TO INVEST IN THE COMPANY (BY THE WAY… IN THE BEGINNING SHE CLAIMED THAT THIS ITALIAN GENTLEMAN WAS HER BEST FRIEND !)

6) I REMAINED PROFESSIONAL ABOUT THE SITUATION. I PUT UP THE FIRST TWO MILLION BIRR TO FUND THE COMPANY ON MY OWN WITHOUT COMPLAINT. LILY SIGNED AN AGREEMENT THAT HALF THE MONEY OR 1 MILLION BIRR WAS A LOAN TO HER THAT WOULD BE PAID BACK FROM THE PROFITS OF THE COMPANY AT 5 PERCENT INTEREST TO ME.

(SINCE THEN… LILY HAS STOLEN THIS DOCUMENT THAT SHE SIGNED AS PROOF THAT SHE MADE THIS LOAN )

7) IN THE LAST 90 DAYS, I HAVE REQUESTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR LILY TO GIVE ME A FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY. SHE ALWAYS PUT ME OFF. FINALLY I APPROACHED THE CO. ACCOUNTANT AND HE REVEALED TO ME THAT LILY HAS NEVER GIVEN HIM A BANK STATEMENT AND HE HAS NO INFO ON THE WHERE WE STAND FINANCIALLY! (WHAT KIND OF PERSON HIRES AN ACCOUNTANT AND HOLDS BACK BANK STATEMENTS? THIS IS TANTAMOUNT TO HIRING A PLUMBER AND THEN GIVING HIM NO ACCESS TO YOUR TOILET!!!

IT WAS CLEAR BY THIS TIME THAT I WAS DEALING WITH AN UNRELIABLE PERSON WHO HAD BROKEN OUR AGREEMENT FROM DAY ONE. STILL I GAVE LILY THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND REMAINED SILENT, DOING MY BEST TO GET THE COMPANY GOING WITHOUT HER HELP. AFTER ALL… I CAME TO ETHIOPIA TO LEND A HAND AND HELP BUILD A COUNTRY AND BRING JOBS TO POOR PEOPLE.

8. THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY, MARCH AND APRIL THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED:

A. LILY APPROACHED 3 OF MY CHILDREN GIVING THEM EACH 50 BIRR AND ASKING THEM TO COME TO ME TO SAY THAT DAVID AND HELEN WEINBERG (MY FRIENDS OF 30 YEARS THAT CAME TO ADDIS TO BUILD THE FACTORY WITH ME) WERE VERY BAD PEOPLE ! (WHAT MOTHER ASKS YOUNG CHILDREN TO DO SUCH A THING?) SO UPSET AND CONFUSED WERE THESE KIDS THAT THEY WENT TO THE SOCIAL WORKER OF MY NGO ASKING HER WHAT TO DO. THE SOCIAL WORKER THEN REVEALED THIS STORY TO ME.

B. DAVID AND HELEN ARE CONSUMMATE EXPERTS IN MY BUSINESS WITH 12 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR ME IN MY FORMER COMPANY AND THEIR EXPERTISE WAS BADLY NEEDED IN ETHIOPIA. WHEN LILY GOT WIND THAT DAVID WAS HEARING EMPLOYEES COMPLAINTS ABOUT HER MISTREATMENT OF THEM… LILY INSISTED THAT I GET RID OF DAVID AND HELEN. (STATING THAT IN HER OPINION, THEY WERE UNQUALIFIED FOR THE JOB !) WHAT COULD I DO? SHE WAS MY PARTNER AND AGAIN I GAVE HER THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, AND AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGMENT ALLOWED LILY TO DRIVE DAVID AND HELEN OUT OF THE COMPANY AND BACK TO THE U.S.A.).

C. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I REMINDED LILY THAT WE NEEDED TO MODIFY OUR APPLICATION TO THE WORLD BANK (REQUESTING THE BANK TO REIMBURSE UP TO 75% OF THE SALARY FOR DAVID AND HELEN) AS THEY NO LONGER WORKED HERE., SHE REFUSED TO AMEND THE APPLICATION…TELLING ME TO LET HER WORRY ABOUT GOVERNMENT MATTERS. NOW I BEGAN TO SEE THAT MY NEW PARTNER WAS PERFECTLY WILLING TO COMMIT FRAUD. I WAS DISTRAUGHT WITH WORRY AT THIS POINT OF WHAT I HAD GOTTEN MYSELF INTO !

FURTHERMORE, IN MARCH LILY INVITED ME TO LUNCH SPECIFICALLY ASKING ME WHAT WAYS WE COULD USE FOR HER TO HIDE PROFITS OF VICTOR AND LILY OUTSIDE ETHIOPIA SO SHE COULD “SAVE MONEY” ON TAXATION. I AVOIDED REPLYING TO HER.

SHE ALSO TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD A COUPLE OF MILLION BIRR STILL LEFT TO SPEND FROM HER BANK LOAN. SHE ASKED ME TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE FACTORY WITH THIS LINE OF CREDIT. I INFORMED LILY THAT WE NEEDED NO OTHER EQUIPMENT. SHE WAS ADAMANT ABOUT IT AND BECAME UPSET WHEN I WOULD NOT HELP HER USE UP THIS CREDIT LINE TO HER OWN BENEFIT WHILE IT HURT THE COMPANY FINANCIALLY (BESIDES I WAS SURE WHAT SHE WAS ASKING ME HELP HER DO WAS ILLEGAL)

D. IN FEBRUARY… LILY MADE ALLEGATIONS THAT THE ONLY REASON ADDIS ALEMAYEHU (THE GENTLEMAN FROM U.S.AID THAT INTRODUCED US AND STRONGLY RECOMMENDED LILY BETRU AS “THE PERFECT PARTNER”) WANTED TO ACCOMPANY PATI HABER ( OUR U.S. SALES DIRECTOR FOR APPAREL) TO THE RETAILERS WAS TO STEAL OUR BUSINESS AND GIVE IT DIRECTLY TO OTHER ETHIOPIAN FACTORIES ! SHE TOLD PATI THAT SHE SHOULD NOT TAKE MR. ALEMAYEHU TO ANY RETAILERS WITH HER… THE MAN PUT THIS DEAL TOGETHER ON HER BEHALF… AND 2 MONTHS LATER, SHE IS CALLING HIM A THIEF AND A LIAR!

E. THROUGHOUT THIS 3 MONTH PERIOD I WOULD INTERVIEW QUALIFIED YOUNG ETHIOPIANS THAT WERE EAGER TO JOIN OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM. LILY WOULD THEN INTERVIEW THEM AND THEY WOULD NEVER RETURN . FURTHER HAMPERING MY ABILITY TO RUN THE COMPANY. IT SEEMS THE ONLY PEOPLE LILY WOULD AGREE TO HIRE ARE THOSE SHE CHOSE… ALTHOUGH SHE HAS ZERO EXPERIENCE IN RUNNING THIS BUSINESS.

G. IN MID APRIL A 400 BIRR A MONTH WELDER APPROACHED ME (FOR THE 10th TIME IN 3 WEEKS) TO TALK ABOUT LILYS MISTREATMENT OF THE WORKERS. WHEN HE ASKED ME THE FIRST TIME, LILY FORBADE ME TO SPEAK WITH HIM AND SAID SHE WOULD DEAL WITH IT. I COULD NOT TAKE IT ANY LONGER AND FINALLY AGREED TO MEET HIM. I SPENT AN HOUR WITH THIS FINE YOUNG MAN MENTORING HIM AND EXPLAINING TO HIM THAT LILY WAS NOT A BAD PERSON JUST “A TOUGH BUSINESSWOMAN” I REASSURED HIM THAT THINGS WOULD GET BETTER AND HE SEEMED TO BE SATISFIED AND ASSURED ME HE WOULD STAY ON AT THE COMPANY.

3 DAYS LATER I LEARNED THAT LILY CONFRONTED HIM ABOUT MY MEETING WITH HIM AND FIRED HIM ON THE SPOT! (FURTHER THREATENING ALL OF HIS COLLEAGUES THAT IF THEY EVER TALKED TO ME THEY WOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS AS WELL)

I CAME TO ETHIOPIA TO CHANGE THESE PEOPLES LIVES , NOT CONTINUE TO ABUSE THEM WHICH IS ALL LILY KNOWS HOW TO DO. IE. WE BUDGETED 200 BIRR PER MONTH FOR TRAINING SALARIES. AFTER THE FACT I LEARNED THAT LILY COMPELLED ALL THE NEW STAFF TO WORK WITHOUT PAY FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS ! IN THE BUILDING LILY OWNS THESE WORKERS HAVE PUT UP WITH HORRIBLE CONDITIONS. LILY DID NOT EVEN SUPPLY THEM WITH PROPER TOILETS FOR OVER A MONTH, TILL I GOT ANGRY.

H. FINALLY ON THE LAST FRIDAY IN APRIL 2008, I SAT LILY DOWN AND VERY CALMLY I CONFRONTED HER ABOUT BREAKING OUR FINANCIAL AGREEMENT, HER UNWILLINGNESS TO LEARN HOW TO RUN THE FACTORY, THE THINGS SHE SAID TO MY CHILDREN AND HER FIRING FOR NO CAUSE OF THE WELDER… SHE CALLED MY CHILDREN LIARS (ALL 3 OF THEM) AND DENIED SHE EVER FIRED THE WELDER FOR MEETING WITH ME, ALTHOUGH WE HAD HEARD IT FROM THE EMPLOYEE DIRECTLY (WOULD 3 KIDS AND A 400 BIRR EMPLOYEE GET TOGETHER AND PLOT TO LIE TO ME ABOUT MY PARTNER?

I. AT THE MEETING ON FRIDAY MAY 2, AFTER 5 MINUTES OF TALK SHE DECLARED OUR PARTNERSHIP FINISHED. I ASK HER TO CALM DOWN…IT IS BETTER TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS WHEN YOU ARE CALM AND RATIONAL. I LEFT THE OFFICE ON FRIDAY HOPING THAT AFTER THE 3 DAY HOLIDAY, WE WOULD GET TOGETHER ON TUESDAY AND I WOULD FIND SOME AMICABLE WAY TO DISSOLVE MY PARTNERSHIP WITH HER AND BUY HER OUT.

ON SATURDAY NIGHT LILY CALLS ASKING ME TO MEET HER IN THE FACTORY AT 7 P.M. I TOLD HER I WAS NOT GOING TO TALK TO HER UNTIL SHE CALMS DOWN AND THAT I WOULD LIKE ADDIS OF US AID TO BE THERE AS A MEDIATOR. SHE TRIED HER BEST TO GET ME TO COME TO THE EMPTY FACTORY ALONE AFTER DARK. I REFUSED. SHE HUNG UP THE PHONE

J. ON MONDAY AFTERNOON MAY 5, DURING THE PUBLIC HOLIDAY, ABOUT 1 P.M. I WAS WALKING AROUND LAKE HORA IN DEBRA ZEIT WHEN MY PHONE RANG. I REPLIED TO THE CALL VIA MY SPEAKER PHONE. THE MAN ON THE OTHER LINE WAS LILYS HUSBAND. HE HAD SAID (IN AN ANGRY AND THREATENING TONE OF VOICE) THAT CERTAIN ACCUSATIONS WERE MADE ABOUT ME (TERRIBLE ACCUSATIONS) AND THAT IF I WAS NOT IN HIS OFFICE BY 4 P.M.

“I WAS GOING TO BE PICKED UP”

HE SAID THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND ALSO MENTIONED THAT I HAD TO ANSWER FOR THESE (AS YET UNKNOWN) ACCUSATIONS AS I WAS IN VERY BIG TROUBLE. THIS ENTIRE CONVERSATION WAS ON SPEAKER PHONE AND I HAVE 7 WITNESSES TO DR. GETACHEWS VEILED THREATS.

AFTER HE THREATENED ME WITH POLICE ACTION I TOLD HIM THE CONVERSATION WAS OVER AND I HUNG UP. I WAS VISIBLY SHAKEN BY THIS PHONE CALL. I HAVE LIVED IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FOR 1/2 MY LIFE. AND I KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN WELL CONNECTED PEOPLE CHOOSE TO DO YOU HARM.

I CALLED THE AMERICAN CONSULATE, UPON HEARING THE SERIOUSNESS OF DR. GETACHEWS PHONE CALL. THEY PATCHED ME THRU TO THE HEAD OF SECURITY. WHEN I TOLD HIM HOW WELL CONNECTED LILY AND HER HUSBAND WAS… THEY WERE ADAMANT THAT PEOPLE WITH LESS CONNECTIONS COULD HAVE A FOREIGNER THROWN IN JAIL WITHOUT CAUSE OR PROVOCATION. IT WAS MY THOUGHT (AND HIS PROFESSIONAL OPINION)THAT I SHOULD LEAVE ADDIS IMMEDIATELY FOR MY OWN SAFETY. THREE HOURS AFTER THE CALL I WAS ON THE NEXT PLANE TO N.Y.C WITH MARK JAWETZ, ANOTHER AMERICAN FACTORY ADVISER THAT HAD COME TO HELP.

I REMAINED IN AMERICA FOR 4 WEEKS, CONSULTING WITH ATTORNEYS, AND LETTING ALL MY CUSTOMERS KNOW THAT MY DREAM OF MASS AMERICAN PRODUCTION IN ETHIOPIA IS NOW DEAD! THESE BUYERS COULD HAVE INCREASED EXPORTS 10 TIMES FROM ETHIOPIA WITHIN 1 TO 2 YEARS. I ASSURED THEM IT WAS SAFE TO DO BUSINESS IN ETHIOPIA. YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE MY EMBARRASSMENT TO GO BACK AND TELL THEM MY INVESTMENT WAS STOLEN BY THE PRIME MINISTERS CLOSE FRIENDS.

I WAS COMPELLED TO RETURN TO ADDIS ABABA ON MONDAY JUNE 9, FOR 2 REASONS.

1. MY NGO HAS 12 MILLION BIRR TO BUILD A FACILITY TO CARE FOR 400 STREET CHILDREN IN ADDIS ABABA. I WAS COMING TO FINALIZE A PURCHASE OF LAND IN ARAT KILO TO BUILD THIS SCHOOL AND CHILD CARE CENTER. (BUT I AM SURE THIS PROJECT WILL NOW BE CANCELLED DUE TO LILY BETRU AND HER CRIMINAL FAMILY MAKING IT UNSAFE FOR ME TO RETURN TO ADDIS ABABA.

2. I WANTED TO GO TO MY FACTORY AND HOPEFULLY TALK SOME SENSE INTO LILY..END THE PARTNERSHIP AMICABLY AND ALLOW ME TO CONTINUE MY PLAN BRING THOUSANDS OF JOBS TO ETHIOPIA AS I ORIGINALLY PLANNED.

BUT INSTEAD.UPON ENTERING MY OWN FACTORY, I FIND THAT MY PERSONAL OFFICE HAS BEEN LOCKED, MY PERSONAL FURNITURE STOLEN. ALL OF MY DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THIS BUSINESS AND THE LOANS I HAVE MADE TO LILY… AND EVEN PERSONAL PHOTOS OF MY DEAD PARENTS HAVE BEEN KEPT BY LILY BETRU.

I WAS THEN ATTACKED BY MICHAEL ASFAW , LILYS 28 YEAR OLD SON. HE IS 28 AND I AM 55 AND THIS YOUNG MAN ATTACKED ME TO KEEP ME FROM ENTERING MY OWN FACTORY. THIS IS THE SAME YOUNG MAN WHO (AT THE REQUEST OF HIS MOTHER, HACKED INTO MY COMPUTER, STOLE VERY PERSONAL (BUT COMPLETELY LEGAL) PHOTOS OF MY PERSONAL LIFE AND NOW ATTEMPTS TO BLATANTLY BLACKMAIL ME WITH THIS.

THIS IS NOT AN ACCUSATION BUT A FACT. THERE ARE NOW SEVERAL WITNESSES TO THIS BLACKMAIL ATTEMPT. LILY EVEN WENT TO MY DRIVER OF 5 YEARS AND ATTEMPTED TO OFFER HIM MONEY IF HE WOULD SAY THAT HE WITNESSED ME HAVING SEX WITH MY “ADOPTED” SON LAWGAW WHOM I HAVE BEEN CARING FOR SINCE 2003. OF COURSE MY DRIVER WAS SICKENED BY THE THOUGHT AND REFUSED LILY. SHE THEN FIRED HIM AS THE COMPANY DRIVER.

THIS DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY OF THIEVES EVEN WENT AHEAD AND CREATED A POWER POINT PRESENTATION IN WHICH THEY THREATEN TO SEND THIS BLACKMAIL TO EVERY CHARITY I WORK WITH. (OF COURSE NONE OF THIS WORRIES ME ) AS THE LIES ARE BASELESS, AND THEIR UNINTELLIGENT ATTEMPT AT BLACKMAILING ME WILL GO NOWHERE.

BESIDES, I HAVE CONTRIBUTED MILLIONS TO THESE CHARITIES OVER THE YEARS. LILYS FOOLISH ATTEMPTS ARE ALMOST LAUGHABLE AS THE STORY HAS NO MERIT AND MY REPUTATION IN THE WORLD OF CHARITABLE GIVING IS FLAWLESS

HOWEVER, NOW WE KNOW THAT LILY AND HER HUSBAND ARE BLACKMAILERS! THAT HAS EVEN INVOLVED THEIR SON IN THEIR CRIMES.

HOW INCREDIBLY SAD THAT THIS IS MY REWARD FOR DEDICATING MY LIFE AND MY PERSONAL FUNDS TO HELP THIS COUNTRY. I INVESTED OVER A MILLION USD IN ETHIOPIA FOR THIS PURPOSE, IN ADDITION I HAVE SPENT 80,000 BIRR EVERY MONTH FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS TO FUND MY NGO AND SAVE OVER A HUNDRED CHILDREN FROM A LIFE OF ILLITERACY AND POVERTY. I STUCK MY NECK OUT AND PERSUADED PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO COME AND HELP ETHIOPIA TO GIVE PEOPLE KNOWLEDGE OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET. SO FAR LILY HAS MANAGED TO CHASE 4 OF THE ORIGINAL 6 EXPERTS OUT OF THE COUNTRY. ONE BY ONE THEY WOULD REPORT TO ME THAT LILY WAS NOT ACTING IN MY BEST INTEREST AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW LILY IS FIRING THEM. (AND ATTEMPTS TO KEEP THE MONEY FROM THE WORLD BANK SALARY REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM ).

I WAS POISED TO BRING THE BIGGEST NAMES IN AMERICAN AND EURO RETAILING TO FILL THE UNDER UTILIZED FACTORIES OF ETHIOPIA, IT IS PUBLIC RECORD THAT I JUST SOLD 2 COMPANIES DOING COMBINED SALES OF $100 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS ANNUALLY.

PATI HABER , OUR MARKETING EXPERT FOR APPAREL IN THE UNITED STATES WAS TALKING TO EVERY MAJOR U.S. RETAILER TO MAKE THEIR APPAREL IN ETHIOPIA. WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO BRINGING THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND MILLIONS IN EXPORTS TO ETHIOPIA OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS. I DID THIS NOT FOR PROFIT…BUT TO CHANGE THE FACE OF A BEAUTIFUL NATION THAT DESERVES PROSPERITY AMONG ITS PEOPLE. BECAUSE OF LILY BETRU, THAT DREAM IS NOW DEAD.

WE WERE ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LARGEST CUSTOMERS IN AMERICA TO PAY FOR AND SEND EXPERTISE TO ETHIOPIA TO TEACH THE APPAREL FACTORIES HOW TO WORK IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA. (AND HOW TO USE THE FORMULA WE DID IN CHINA TO HELP MAKE IT A GREAT NATION.) I HAD A GREAT VISION OF A PROSPEROUS ETHIOPIA THAT WOULD BE TRANSFORMED BY BRINGING LIGHT INDUSTRY TO ETHIOPIA AS WE DID IN CHINA A QUARTER CENTURY AGO. ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE OF LILY BETRU THAT DREAM IS NOW DEAD!

I BEG THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT TO LOOK INTO THIS PROPERLY AND BRING THESE PEOPLE TO JUSTICE. I CAN NO LONGER RETURN TO MY HOME OR BUSINESS OR CHILDREN’S WELFARE CENTER IN ADDIS ABABA. LILY KEEPS CALLING ME IN THE U.S. WARNING ME THAT “IF I COME BACK NO ONE WILL PROTECT ME ! SHE SAYS SHE IS THE PERSONAL FRIEND OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND NO ONE WILL DARE TO INTERFERE WITH HER.

I STILL BELIEVE THAT ETHIOPIA IS A GREAT COUNTRY WITH ALL THE POTENTIAL NEEDED FOR IT TO BECOME THE NEXT POWERHOUSE OF MANUFACTURING FOR U.S. CORPORATIONS.

I AM A MAN WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF A QUARTER CENTURY IN CHINA… CREATING JOBS, KNOWLEDGE, AND PROSPERITY FOR THE CHINESE PEOPLE. I KNOW SO MANY LARGE COMPANIES WILLING TO GIVE ETHIOPIA A TRY. I KNOW THE TOP EXPERTS IN LIGHT INDUSTRY THAT COULD BRING MOUNTAINS OF TRANSFERABLE KNOWLEDGE TO ETHIOPIA.

PLEASE DO NOT LET THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT OF LILY BETRUS FAMILY DESTROY THIS POSSIBILITY.

I AWAIT YOUR SOONEST REPLY.

VICTOR OZERI