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frozen

THE CAIRO state security court has upheld a freeze on the assets of 29 members of Egypt's most influential opposition bloc, the Muslim Brotherhood. On 28 January Prosecutor- General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud ordered the freeze on the assets of the MB members and other key figures, including deputy supreme guide, multi-millionaire businessman Khayrat El-Shater. They were accused of money laundering and other offences that include belonging to a banned group and attempting to revive the group's para-military wing. In it's ruling yesterday, the court dismissed the Brotherhood's attempt to have the freeze overturned and appointed an official of the state-run National Bank of Egypt to manage the assets.

In his capacity as commander of the armed forces, President Hosni Mubarak on 6 February transferred the case of El-Shater and 29 others to a military tribunal. Pro-government newspapers said the trial would bring new evidence to light of money laundering as well as documentary evidence confirming the group has not renounced violence.

The group, however, argues that the case against them is politically motivated and insists the government is showing zero tolerance to opposition.

Lighter

verdict

THE WARAQ Court of Appeals has quashed a one-year sentence against editor of the independent Al-Dostour Ibrahim Issa. Along with journalist Sahar Zaki, Issa had been given a year in prison for insulting President Hosni Mubarak.

However, a LE22,500 fine was not dropped.

The two journalists were accused of disturbing national stability, libelling the president and publishing false information. The Appeals Court found them not guilty of the first and second charges but guilty of the third, the reason for the fine.

The case against Issa and Zaki began on 5 April 2005 when Zaki published a story on a lawyer who wanted to take Mubarak and his family to court on allegations of corruption, including the alleged misuse of foreign aid. The original suit against the journalists was filed by a lawyer Sobhi Abu Hatab. He filed the suit on his own behalf. "It is dangerous to defame Egypt's president," Abu Hatab had said.

At a press conference, Issa said he found it absurd to be charged with publishing false information since the case against the president was real. "Where, then, is the false information?" he asked.

The court case against Mubarak will start on 27 March.

The ruling came as a surprise to many. The government is reportedly angered by Issa's criticism of the president.

Ghad Party leader Ayman Nour and MP Talaat El-Sadat, vocal critics of the government, are currently serving jail sentences. Observers believed Issa was headed for a prison term as well.

Minister

rebuked

THE SUPREME Administrative Court on Sunday quashed an appeal filed by Justice Minister Mamdouh Marie who contested a ruling obliging the ministry to bear the cost of the treatment of a judge suffering from a brain tumor.

In its ruling, the Supreme Administrative court said that by contesting the ruling passed by the Administrative Court, Marie had misused the right of litigation by resorting to means that would hinder the implementation of court rulings.

The ruling of the Supreme Administrative Court was passed just one day after the State Council Judges' Club issued a statement urging President Mubarak to intervene.

The case has seriously divided the minister and the State Council Judges' Club.

Marie argued that allowing judge Mohamed Gad El-Manzalawi to receive treatment abroad would open the door to others seeking the same privilege.

Jailed for

refusing orders

A MILITARY court has sentenced Mohamed Khalaf Hassan, a policeman, to six months in jail after refusing orders to guard the Israeli Embassy.

The embassy, which occupies two floors of a building overlooking the Nile and is usually targetted by demonstrators angry over Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories, is subject to strict security measures.

According to police sources, a policeman who disobeys the orders of a superior faces a jail term ranging from 24 hours to three years.

Following his referral to a military trial on charges of disobeying orders, Hassan, 38, went on hunger strike.

Compiled by

Mona El-Nahhas