On Sunday an Egyptian court postponed the trial of former Tourism Minister Zoheir Garana, arrested on charges of profiteering and wasting public money, to 23 April.
Judicial sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the Cairo Criminal Court put off the trial to allow time for the defense to examine the case.
The public prosecutor charged Garana with granting permits to establish travel agencies to several people who had personal relationships with him.
Garana is also expected to appear in court on 4 April along with two businessmen who will be tried in absentia because they have fled the country — Hesham al-Hazeq and Hussein Segwani — over charges of profiteering and illegal acquisition of public money.
Investigations revealed that Garana sold large expanses of land in oil-rich areas in Hurghada to both businessmen at prices much lower than market price. It was shown that Garana helped al-Hazeq and Segwani make US$10 million and US$41 million respectively, which represents a waste of public money.
The two businessmen left Egypt in December.
