New charges are being leveled at former officials from ousted President Hosni Mubarak’s regime, who just last week were acquitted of charges that they incited the killing of demonstrators during the 25 January revolution.
The Illicit Gains Authority began conducting investigations on Monday into the two individuals, Fathi Sorour and Ibrahim Kamel.
After a day-long interrogation today, authority head Judge Yehia Galal remanded former Parliament speaker Sorour into custody for 15 days pending investigation into how he acquired his wealth.
Sorour reported himself to the authority today 24 hours after the investigating body issued a warrant for his arrest after he twice failed to appear before them for interrogations.
The authority also issued an arrest warrant for Kamel, a businessman and former leading figure at the now dissolved National Democratic Party, who is also accused of amassing large fortunes illegally. Kamel also failed to appear for investigations.
In addition, the authority ordered the freezing of Kamel’s assets.
The two suspects, along with 22 other Mubarak era figures, stood trial on charges of killing protesters in the Battle of the Camel incident on 2 and 3 February last year during the uprising that ousted Mubarak.
On 2 February 2011, peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators were attacked by assailants in Tahrir Square, some of whom rode horses and camels. At least 11 protesters were killed and hundreds were injured.
On Wednesday, Cairo Criminal Court acquitted all 24 defendants in the case. Among those on trial were former Shura Council Speaker Safwat al-Sherif, ceramics tycoon Mohamed Abul Enein, former Manpower and Immigration Minister Aisha Abdel Hady, and Hussein Megawer, former head of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation.
The court ruling caused outrage and hundreds took to the streets to protest it.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
