In his first public appearance since his release from detention in August, steel mogul Ahmed Ezz has wished former president Hosni Mubarak a speedy recovery.
Ezz, who had been in detention over the past three years for multiple charges related to corruption in the steel industry, made his first appearance on Wednesday during a celebration marking 25 years since the establishment of the first company in his industrial empire.
He was released in August after paying LE11 million, a first installment of a larger LE100 million fine he had vowed to disburse to authorities.
“I endured difficult, dark times over more than three decades due to harsh criticisms”, said Ezz, a former close ally to the Mubarak’s family and the former Secretary of Organization at Mubarak’s previously-ruling National Democratic Party.
Ailing Mubarak is spending his custody detention at Maadi Military Hospital, standing trial over charges related to murder of protesters against his rule as well as financial corruption.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
