OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA 9th Year No. 41 ADDIS ABABA - 84 April , 2003 CONTENTS Proclamation No. 321/2003 A Proclamation to Amend the Federal Courts Proclamation Page 2133 PROCLAMATION NO . 321/2003 . A PROCLAMATION TO PROVIDE FOR THE AMENDEMENT of THE FEDERAL COURTS PROCLAMATION WHEREAS , it is found necessary to amend the Federal Courts Proclamation No. 25/1996 . NOW , THEREFORE , in accordance with Article 55 ( 1 ) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia , it is hereby proclaimed as follows . Short Title This proclamation may be cited as the " Federal Courts ( Amendment ) Proclamation No. 321/2003 . " . The Federal Courts Proclamation No. 25/1996 is hereby amended as follows : 1 ) Sub - Article ( 1 ) of Article 4 is deleted and replaced by the following new Sub - Article ( 1 ) : " 1 ) Offences against the national state ; " 2 ) Sub - Article ( 9 ) of Article 4 is deleted and replaced by the following new Sub - Article ( 9 ) : “ 9. Without prejudice to international diplomatic law and custom as well other international agreement to which Ethiopia is a party , offen ces of which foreign nationals who enjoy privileges and immunities and who reside in Ethiopia are victims or defendants ; without prejudice to Sub - Article ( 3 ) of Article 12 and Sub - Article ( 3 ) of Article 15 offences of which foreigners are victims or defendants and which entail more than 5 years rigorous imprison ment . ' ' Unit Price The African Law Archive 3. The following new Sub - Article ( 13 ) and ( 14 ) are added to Article 14 : “ 13 ) Offences connected with conflicts between various nations ; nationalities , ethnic , religious or political groups ; 14 ) Without prejudice to Sub - Article ( 3 ) of Article 12 and Sub - Article ( 3 ) of Article 15 offences committed against the property of the Federal Government and which entail more than 5 years rigorous imprisonment . " Article 12 : “ 12. First Instance Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court The Federal High Court shall have first instance jurisdiction over the following criminal cases : 1 ) Criminal cases falling under Sub - Articles ( 1 ) , ( 2 ) ( 3 ) , ( 8 ) , ( 10 ) and ( 13 ) of Article 4 ; 2 ) Criminal cases falling under Sub - Article 9 con cerning foreign nationals and Sub - Article 14 of Article 4 and falling under the jurisdiction of High Court pursuant to other laws in force ; 3 ) Other criminal cases arising in the Cities of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa and falling under the jurisdiction of High Court pursuant to other laws in force . ” ' 5 ) Article 15 is deleted and replaced by the following new Article 15 : “ 15. Criminal jurisdiction of the Federal first Instance Court . The federal First Instance Court shall have jurisdic tion over the following criniïnal cases : 1 ) Criminal cases falling under Sub - Articles ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) and ( 7 ) of Article 4 ; 2 ) Criminal cases falling under Sub - Articles 9 of Article 4 concerning foreign national and falling under the jurisdiction of Wereda and Awraja Courts ; 3 ) Without prejudice to judicial power vested in other organs by law , other criminal cases arising in the cities of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa and falling under the jurisdiction of Wereda and Awraja courts . ” 6. Pending cases Cases pending before Regional Court concerning Sub Articles ( 1 ) , ( 9 ) , ( 13 ) and ( 14 ) of Article 4 as amended by this Proclamation shall be transferred to the Federal Courts which have jurisdiction over the cases . This Proclamation shall enter into force as of the g'h day of April , 2003 . Done at Addis Ababa , this 8ih day of April , 2003 . PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA The African Law Archive