Mubarak-era top political figure sentenced to 5-years on corruption charges

Cairo criminal court sentenced on Saturday former speaker of the Shura Council Safwat El-Sherif to five years in prison on corruption charges during his long years of serving in government in the Mubarak era.

The court found El-Sherif guilty of using his public post for personal gain, racking over EGP 300 million.

El-Sherif’s two sons also received jail time in the same case. Ehab was sentenced to five years, while Ashraf, who was tried in absentia, was sentenced to ten years.

Investigations showed that El-Sherif made his fortune by abusing his powers in his various public posts as the head of Egypt’s State Information Body, the head of Egyptian Radio and Television Union, information minister and as speaker of Egypt’s upper house in parliament.

The trio were also fined a total of EGP 209 million.

The sentences can still be appealed.

Many other Mubarak-era figures have been cleared of corruption charges in recent years.

Mubarak is being retried on charges of complicity in killing protesters during the 25 January 2011 revolution. His next court session is set for 3 November.

In 2012, a court also acquitted El-Sherif and other high-level colleagues of complicity in mobilising a mob to carry out a deadly attacks on anti-Mubarak protesters during the 18-day uprising in 2011 that toppled the former autocrat.

source: Ahram online