The Giza Criminal Court sentenced former prime minister, Ahmed Nazif, to three years in prison and ordered him to pay a hefty fine on Thursday, according to state-run Al Ahram.
Nazif who was convicted for illegal gains and corruption, was ordered by the court to pay over EGP 9 million. According to the independent newspaper Al-Dostour, Nazif was referred to court after he was suspected of using his powers to make EGP 64 million in assets, these included property, shares in telecommunication firms and luxury vehicles, according to state-run news agency MENA.
Al-Dostour added that Nazif had also set up a private university which received donations from governmental and other donors worth EGP 35 million. In addition, Nazif is said to have used his position to secure good positions for members of his family.
Nazif has already received a one year suspended sentence for profiteering charges.
Nazif was prime minister of Egypt from 2004 and dismissed in late January 2011 by former president, Hosni Mubarak. Mubarak made the move in an attempt to calm the 2011 revolution. Nazif was replaced by Ahmed Shafiq but that failed to end the momentum of the revolution.
Corruption had reached alarming levels preceding the revolution with many officials using their powers to advance their own interests. Afterwards, many figures of the former regime were put on trial including ousted President Mubarak and his two sons, Gamala and Ala’a.
