Ex-Egypt Trade Minister Sentenced in Absentia for Embezzlement
Former Egyptian trade and industry minister Rashid Mohammed Rashid was sentenced in absentia on Saturday to five years in prison for embezzlement of public funds, state news agency Mena reported.
Rashid, who is the subject of an international search warrant, was also ordered to pay a fine of more than nine million Egyptian pounds (over a million euros).
Cairo's criminal court found Rashid guilty of embezzling funds from the export development fund.
Several businessmen and officials of Hosni Mubarak's regime, which was toppled February 11 by a popular uprising, are under investigation for embezzlement and corruption.
Uprooting corruption was and remains one of the central demands of the activists who pushed for Mubarak's departure.
Mubarak alongside his sons Alaa and Gamal is set to face trial on August 3 on charges of corruption and of ordering the killing of protesters during the uprising in January and February that toppled the veteran leader.
Former Egyptian finance minister Youssef Boutros Ghali was sentenced to 30 years in prison in absentia on corruption charges on June 4.
Source: Agence France Presse
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