(AFP File Photo \Egyptian TV)
By Yasmin Sameh
Upon receiving new evidence, the South Cairo Criminal Court ruled Wednesday to give the prosecution another stand at court on 28 April against former Interior Minister Habib Al-Adly and former Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, who have been accused of profiteering from an illegal licence plate deal.
The prosecution introduced previously undisclosed evidence, so the court ordered the defence to review the new information, according to state-owned news agency MENA.
The defendants were charged with “squandering public funds and profiteering”. The two are accused of making an illegal deal with German company UTSCH, to sell licence plates for higher than market value, according to state-owned Al-Ahram. The deal, which prosecutors say lost EGP 92m in public funds, violated the tenders and auction law.
Nazif did not attend court because of health problems, according to defence attorneys. Al-Adly was present with his lawyers.
Two months ago the court adjourned with an order to reconvene for a verdict on 26 March.
In July 2011 the Cairo Criminal Court sentenced Al-Adly to five years in prison. Nazif was given a one year suspended sentence, and former Minister of Finance Yousef Botros Ghali was given ten years in absentia. All the men’s sentences included labour, and were all fined EGP 92m in addition to refunding the government EGP 92m. The Cairo Court of Cassationchallenged and denied the verdict and ordered the defendants be retried.
