Former Egyptian Interior Minister El-Adly sentenced to 12 years in prison

Former Egyptian Interior Minister El-Adly sentenced to 12 years in prison

2011-05-05 22:04:07 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAIRO, EGYPT (BNO NEWS) -- An Egyptian Court on Thursday sentenced former Interior Minister Habib El-Adly to 12 years in prison for corruption, profiteering and other charges, the Daily al-Ahram newspaper reported.

The Giza Criminal Court found the former minister guilty of corruption charges related to using his position to gain illegal profits. He was the first official of the regime of ousted President Hosni Mubarak to be convicted.

El-Adly's attorney, Essam El-Batawy, said that they will file a request to overturn the verdict as soon as the court releases the justifications of the ruling. Meanwhile, the court also ordered to freeze all assets of the ex-minister.

Furthermore, the former Interior Minister was ordered to pay a fine of about 14 million Egyptian pounds (LE) ($2.35 million) while LE 4.5 million ($750,000) were confiscated from his personal bank account.

According to the evidence shown on trial, El-Adly sold land to a contractor hired by his ministry in a deal worth LE 4.8 million ($800,000). He was also found guilty of laundering about LE 4.5 million ($750,000).

El-Adly is also being on trial for other offenses including the killing of peaceful protesters, damaging public and private property, creating a security vacuum by ordering the police to evacuate and set fire to their own buildings during the January revolution, and terrorizing citizens.

The ex-government official was arrested on February 17 along former Tourism Minister Zoheir Garranah and steel tycoon Ahmed Ezz, a senior member of ousted president Mubarak's National Democratic Party (NDP).

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces 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.

So far, many former government officials have been arrested or put under investigation, including the former President and his sons. In addition, the ruling military adopted an interim Constitution and disbanded Mubarak's long-feared state security police.

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