Cairo Appeals Court has ordered the release of former Egyptian Radio and TV Union head Osama al-Sheikh on LE50,000 bail, but Sheikh will not walk out of jail right away.
Sheikh had earlier that the court release him after his appeal was approved and a ruling was issued ordering a retrial. However, the court declined his request, so he filed a complaint with the Public Prosecution, which submitted it to the Cairo Appeals Court.
On 17 December, the court canceled the ruling sentencing him to five years in prison and ordered a retrial on his charges of wasting public money and enabling others to make profits illegally by buying TV series and shows produced by the Nile TV channel at high prices.
Sheikh, “will not be released, despite the decision,” Major General Mohamed Ibrahim, the Interior Ministry's Deputy for Prison Affairs, told state-run news agency MENA.
"The Public Funds Prosecution informed the prison administration that he is wanted for investigations conducted by prosecution in another case,” he said.
Neither the date for investigations, nor the charges are set yet.
If Sheikh is released, he would be the second official from the regime of former President Hosni Mubarak to be let out of jail, the first being former Parliament Speaker Fathy Sorour, who was released two months ago. Both were arrested in the aftermath of the 25 January revolution.
