The government on Monday approved amendments to a draft of the Treachery Law that will be used to prevent Mubarak regime icons from exercising politics for a maximum of five years.
Under this law, figures with ties to the Mubarak regime will also be removed from their government positions.
In July, the government approved preliminary amendments to a draft of the Treachery Law under pressure from revolutionary groups and other political powers who wanted guarantees that former regime icons would not find their way back to the parliament.
Several people suspect the interim government is serious about implementing the law, especially since this is the second time the government is introducing amendments to the draft.
The Treachery Law was passed in the wake of the 1952 revolution to try corrupt former officials. The law lists political and financial corruption, jeopardizing national interests and misusing political leverage as crimes.
It also allows punishments ranging from removing officials from office to banning them from running in elections or being nominated to any government body or council for a minimum of five years from the date of sentencing, according to Court of Cassation President Ahmed Mekky.
Severer sentences can include imprisonment from three to 10 years and convicts can have their citizenship rights revoked.
On Tuesday, Al-Ahram reported that Justice Minister Abdel Aziz al-Guindi said treachery lawsuits should be filed with the public prosecution to provide the necessary legal guarantees for the defendant.
The Cairo Criminal Court will be responsible for examining the cases, with defendants being allowed to appeal against the rulings.
Legal experts believe that issuing the Treachery Law may lead to the dismissal of Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, who was himself a former member of the National Democratic Party’s policy secretariat.
