Former Egyptian housing minister found guilty of illegal land deal

Maghrabi is one of a number of foreign ministers investigated for corruption

An Egyptian court sentenced the former housing minister to five years in prison for involvement in an illegal land deal on Thursday 26th May.
 

Ahmed Maghrabi was found guilty of wasting public funds and helping a businessman buy seven hectares of state land at below-market prices.

The businessman, Mounir Ghabbour, received a one-year suspended sentence for his role in the deal.

The court ordered the two men to repay a total of US$12.6 million and fined them the same amount.

Maghrabi is the third minister of former ruler Hosni Mubarak to have been convicted for corruption since the regime collapsed in the face of mass protests in February.

Mubarak's interior minister Habib ElAdly and tourism minister Zuheir Garrana have both been jailed.

Numerous government officials under the Mubarak regime amassed large personal fortunes; their prosecution was one of the key demands of the protestors.

Mubarak and his family are currently being investigated for corruption. Additionally, Egypt's chief prosecutor said Tuesday 24th May that Mubarak and two of his sons will be charged with ordering the killings of anti-government activists during the February protests.

Mubarak could face the death penalty if found guilty.

For more information, please see the Menas ACCS website, here.