Egypt detains ex-ministers on corruption charges

An Egyptian prosecutor has ordered the arrest of three former government ministers and a prominent businessman on suspicion they wasted public funds, in a bid to appease the outrage of ordinary Egyptians over corruption in Hosni Mubarak’s regime.

Former Interior Minister Habib el-Adli, former Tourism Minister Zuhair Garana, former Housing Minister Ahmed el-Maghrabi and steel tycoon Ahmed Ezz will be held for fifteen days, pending a trial.

Ezz was viewed as a mentor of Gamal Mubarak, the son of the recently deposed President. He is also Chairman of the Membership Committee of the former ruling National Democratic Party (NDP)

State TV reported that Adli and members of his family allegedly had transferred more than 4-million

Egyptian pounds ($680,000) to his personal account through the auspices of contracting company.
Ezz has denied the allegations.

The prosecutor is also seeking to freeze the accounts of Adli, Garana, Rachid, Maghrabi and Ezz that might be held in Europe.