Plaintiffs’ lawyers in the case against Al-Ezz Dekheila Steel Company, in which Ahmed Ezz and other former National Democratic Party officials are charged with squandering public money, have requested changing panel of judges involved in the case.
Giza Criminal Court on Saturday adjourned the case until Monday to examine the request.
Former Minister of Industry Ibrahim Mohammadein and five other officials from the company are implicated in the case.
The Public Prosecution called for imposing the severe penalties on the suspects, who are charged with squandering LE5 billion in public money.
According to investigations, Mohammadein helped Ezz acquire the then state-owned Al Ezz Dekheila Steel Company between 1999 and 2001 in violation to the law.
Investigations have also revealed that Mohammadein gave Ezz financial privileges and exempted him from fines, allowing him to make profits of LE687,435,017 .
Investigations further revealed that with the help of other officials from the company, Ezz made profits of LE4, 821,815,338 between 2010 and 2011.
Ezz was arrested on 24 February. Ezz, a steel magnate who monopolizes the steel industry through three companies, was close to ex-president Hosni Mubarak’s son Gamal.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
