The Cairo Court of Appeal has scheduled the first session in the trial of Osama El-Sheikh, the former Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at the Radio and Television Union, for 15 February. El-Sheikh will stand trial along with three others over illicit gains charges.
The three other defendants have been identified as: Asmaa Thabet, a cousin of Suzanne Mubarak, the wife of former President Hosni Mubarak; Mounir Fahmy, former Deputy Manager of the Arab African International Bank (AAIB); and Ahmed Al-Sayyad, former Chairperson of the National Investment Bank (NIB).
Counsellor Islam El-Fekki, head of the examination and investigation authority, was responsible for the investigation in the case, and sent the case to the Cairo Court of Appeal for a final criminal judgment.
The commission for examination and investigation of crimes involving illicit gains ordered an investigation into the case to settle a final verdict against the four defendants.
In 2016, the Cairo Criminal Court annulled a previous verdict in the case, ruling a lack of evidence. The court ordered a re-investigation into the case.
In February 2011, Osama El-Sheikh was arrested on accusations of using state money to privately produce TV programmes.
He was, in September 2011, cleared on charges of squandering public funds by purchasing entertainment shows at inflated prices.
