Court jails former Egyptian minister for corruption
Egypt’s powerful former information minister has been found guilty of corruption and jailed for seven years.
Anas al-Fiqqi’s conviction is the latest by an Egyptian court of former senior officials in toppled President Hosni Mubarak’s regime. Former state television chief, Osama el-Sheikh, also was sentenced to five years in prison in the same case as al-Fiqqi.
Handing out justice to former regime officials has been a driving force behind continued protests and frustration among the groups that originally took to Egypt’s streets to demand Mubarak’s removal.
The long-time leader, who stepped down in February and handed power to a military council, is also on trial on charges that he ordered the use of deadly force against protesters in the 18-day uprising that toppled him. His two sons, businessman Alaa and one-time heir apparent Gamal, are being tried on corruption charges.
A handful of former regime officials already have been convicted, including the ex-interior and tourism ministers, as well as a former ruling party stalwart and steel magnate Ahmed Ezz, primarily on corruption charges. Other former regime figures are still on trial.
El-Fiqqi already was acquitted of other charges, including channelling state money to help Mubarak’s party election campaigns.
Following the verdict, the families and supporters of the defendants broke out in chants, scuffled with one another and directed slurs at the judges. “Invalid, Invalid,” the crowd chanted.
