By Hamza Hendawi / AP
CAIRO: Egyptian authorities on Thursday arrested the country’s former information minister and the chairman of state TV and radio on corruption allegations, security officials said.
The arrests of Anas El-Fiqqi and Osama El-Sheikh are the latest steps Egypt’s ruling generals have taken against prominent figures in the regime of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, who handed power to the military when he stepped down Feb. 11.
Former Information Minister El-Fiqqi was a confidante of Mubarak and his powerful, one-time heir apparent son Gamal. Under their stewardship, state TV persistently discredited the young organizers of the 18-day uprising that forced Mubarak to step down after nearly 30 years of authoritarian rule.
Egypt’s media has been buzzing with reports of spectacular corruption by members of Mubarak’s regime as well as businessmen linked to his government. Authorities are inviting Egyptians to come forward with evidence of alleged corruption by the toppled regime, pledging not to reveal their identities.
Mubarak himself has been swept up by the anti-graft campaign that followed his stunning ouster. Earlier this week, authorities froze his assets abroad, as well as those of his wife, two sons and their wives.
The security officials said the El-Fiqqi investigation looked into the fate of LE 2 million (about $340,000) he collected in donations to support of a film festival in Cairo. They had no more details.
El-Fiqqi never presented documents explaining how he spent the money, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
El-Sheikh, said the officials, allegedly used state money to privately produce TV programs.
The arrest of El-Fiqqi and El-Sheikh followed the imposition Wednesday of a travel ban on former Prime Minister Atef Ebeid and Farouk Hosni, who handled the nation’s cultural affairs for more than 25 years. El-Sheikh was also banned from leaving the country on Wednesday, together with nine businessmen.
El-Fiqqi has already been placed under house arrest pending the completion of a corruption probe.
On Wednesday, an angry crowd of hundreds taunted three former high-ranking members of Mubarak’s regime when they arrived in court for a corruption hearing, screaming “thieves” and “you robbed our money.”
The three former top officials who appeared in a Cairo Criminal Court — ex-Housing Minister Ahmed Maghrabi, former Tourism Minister Zuheir Garranah and steel tycoon and prominent ruling party leader Ahmed Ezz — wore white prison uniforms and sat in a metal cage as a judge issued a ruling blocking any commercial dealings in their properties.
Maghrabi shouted out from behind the cage: “I will not be a scapegoat. I am innocent.” Ezz and Garranah also said they were innocent.
The trio, who face allegations that range from abuse of authority to squandering state wealth, are among some two dozen ex-ministers and businessmen who are under investigation. The protesters who ousted Mubarak often mentioned corruption as a key motive behind their movement.
The popular anger felt against such former regime power brokers was evident Wednesday. As the vehicles carrying Maghrabi, Garana and Ezz drove through the streets of Cairo to the courthouse, dozens of cars followed them honking and people chanted “there are the thieves.”
When they arrived at the packed court, more than 500 people had gathered outside the building to shout at them.
Egypt’s former tourism minister Zuheir Garranah (R), former housing minister Ahmed El-Maghrabi (L), and former senior member of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Ahmed Ezz (C) sit behind bars during a hearing in their trial on suspicion of diverting public funds in Cairo on February 23, 2011. (AFP PHOTO/STR)
