Egypt's former Housing Minister Suleiman arrested for corruption

Egypt's former Housing Minister Suleiman arrested for corruption

2011-04-06 22:33:48 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAIRO, EGYPT (BNO NEWS) -- Egyptian authorities on Wednesday arrested Ibrahim Suleiman, former Housing Minister, over corruption and waste of public money charges, the Daily al-Ahram newspaper reported.

Suleiman is under investigation for profiteering, wasting public money and giving away plots of land to his relatives and business associates. The former minister is also accused of facilitating the granting of loans to companies owned by relatives of ex-president Hosni Mubarak.

Since 2008, Suleiman has faced accusation for illegally allocating large plots of land for the building of upscale residential areas including Beverly Hills, owned by Alaa Mubarak, the son of the ousted president.

The former minister is also accused of allocating about 28 plots of land to relatives, including his wife, his two children, his brothers-in-law and their children. Under Egyptian law, only one plot of land can be allocated per single family.

Suleiman is the latest former official to be arrested in relation to corruption in Egypt. Former Minister of Housing Ahmed El-Maghrabi, former Minister of Tourism Zoheir Garana and former Minister of Agriculture Amin Abaza are currently facing charges of corruption as well.

Former Minister of Interior Habib El-Adly was arrested over accusations in relation to the brutal treatment of demonstrators as well as the sudden absence of security forces during the protests which ended the 30-year-long reign of President Hosni Mubarak.

In addition to the former officials detained, authorities said that approximately a dozen former ministers and businessmen are under investigation for corruption or abuse of authority. All of them have had their assets frozen and travel bans imposed on them.

The military council took control of Egypt after Mubarak, who led Egypt as president for three decades, stepped down after weeks of anti-government protests by crowds calling for greater democracy and respect of human rights.

On March 30,the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces adopted an interim Constitution that includes 9 articles endorsed in the March 19 referendum. The constitutional reform granted the Council full presidential authority, ‎‎including invalidating enacted laws, introducing new legislations and representing the ‎‎country overseas.

In addition, the ruling military council will remain at the helm of the North African country until the upcoming presidential elections, to be held after the parliamentary polls in September. The interim constitution also established that the presidential term will be for four years and could be extended to eight years if re-elected.

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