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Mubarak aide guilty

May 27, 2012

Deposed Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak's top aide has been sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of corruption. The sentence comes a week before Mubarak faces his own day in court.

https://p.dw.com/p/153DC
A file photo dated 19 January 2011, shows the then Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (L) talking to his Chief of the Presidential Staff Zakaria Azmi (R) during the Economic, Development and Social summit held in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

One of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's closest aides has been convicted on charges of corruption, Egypt's official news agency reported on Sunday.

Zakaria Azmi has been sentenced to seven years in prison and must pay a fine of 36.3 million Egyptian pounds ($6 million, 4.8 million euros). Azmi served as Mubarak's chief of staff and was an influential figure in the now defunct National Democratic Party. Mubarak was rarely seen in public without Azmi at his side.

The official Middle East News Agency said the court had established that Azmi used his position to embezzle some 42.6 million pounds of public funds.

Azmi's conviction comes just one week before Mubarak faces his own day in court. On June 2, the verdict is set to be handed down in the former president's case. He faces charges of corruption and complicity in the killing of protesters during the 18-day revolt that led to his downfall on February 11, 2011.

If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

slk/ng (AP, AFP)