Yehya Galal, Assistant Minister of Justice for Illicit Gains, is sending former Information Minister Anas al-Fiqqi to court over new corruption charges, according to state news agency MENA
Fiqqi is accused of accepting LE 33 million in illegal bribes and gifts during his terms in office as Information Minister and head of the General Agency for Culture Palaces.
Authorities contend that Fiqqi was unable to prove that he had amassed his wealth, which includes luxury vehicles and real estate, legitimately.
The Cairo Court of Appeal is set to rule on which criminal court will hear the case as well as the trial start date.
Last September, the Cairo Criminal Court sentenced Fiqqi to seven years in jail for granting private satellites channels free access to the 2009, 2010 and 2011 broadcasting rights of Egypt’s premier football league, which cost the government LE 1.89 million. Osama al-Sheikh, the former head of State Television, was also sentenced to five years.
However, the Court of Cassation annulled Fiqqi’s verdict in December and ordered a retrial.
In July 2011, Fiqqi was acquitted of squandering public funds on New Democratic Party propaganda in a separate case. Fiqqi is also being investigated over allegations of disseminating false news about the 25 January revolution, putting public security at risk.
