Former Egyptian president probed over Ahram gifts

Hosni Mubarak\'s appeal against life sentence is expected to be heard on Sunday Prosecutors in Egypt have placed a new detention order on former president Hosni Mubarak, after reports that he received valuable gifts from the country’s top newspaper, al-Ahram. The public funds prosecutor has issued an order for Mubarak to be held for 15 days pending a full investigation. The prosecution, led by Ahmed al-Najjar, is investigating reports that Mubarak received watches, pens, bags, belts, and jewellery from Al-Ahram Foundation between 2006 and 2011.
The former president is already serving a life sentence after being convicted for failing to stop killings of protesters during the 2011 uprising that overthrew him. On Sunday, Egypt\'s court of Cassation will consider appeals filed by Mubarak and his former Interior minister Habib al-Adli. Judicial sources have told Arabstoday that even if Mubarak is successful in his appeal, the new detention order could prevent him from walking free.
Prosecutor-General Talaat Abdullah has stopped 26 senior figures from Mubarak\'s regime including his family, a number of former ministers, ex-presidents of People\'s Assembly and Shura Council and the former press leaders, from disposing of their financial and real estate assets. He has also banned them from leaving the country as the Ahram gifts investigation is carried out.
Sources say Ibrahim Nafie, former Chairman of al-Ahram gave gifts to members of the Mubarak regime between 1984 and 2011. The recipients ranged from Mubarak, his wife, his two sons and their wives, to the Prime Minister, a number of ministers and their assistants.