Egypt Requests Seizing Gamal Mubarak’s Funds in Cyprus

Gamal Mubarak. Asharq Al-Awsat
Gamal Mubarak. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Egypt Requests Seizing Gamal Mubarak’s Funds in Cyprus

Gamal Mubarak. Asharq Al-Awsat
Gamal Mubarak. Asharq Al-Awsat

Egypt’s General Prosecution requested from Cairo Criminal Court on Saturday to confiscate the funds that are held in Cyprus and belong to the sons of former President Hosni Mubarak, Alaa and Gamal.

In a trial session in the ‘stock exchange manipulation” case, the court listened to Alaa and Gamal’s testimonies along with seven other defendants.

The court decided to adjourn their trial to March 23, and the public prosecution called for summoning more witnesses in the case.

In September, the court approved the complaint filed by Alaa and Gamal Mubarak and the other defendants against the decision of their imprisonment and released them on bail of EGP100,000.

The representative of the prosecution explained that its requests came as part of the legal role in initiating the criminal case and summoned former Head of the Financial Supervisory Authority Sherif Samy and former Head of Egyptian Stock Exchange Mohamed Omran for questioning over some documents.

Investigations carried out by Egypt following the overthrow of Mubarak in 2011 showed that his sons owned companies in partnership with other parties in Cyprus, but Egypt had not yet recovered the funds.

The prosecution accused Gamal Mubarak of participating in assisting with public officials in the crime of profiteering and obtaining illegal money for himself and his companies.

It said parties agreed to sell one of the banks, enabling him to acquire a percentage of the bank’s shares through one of his companies in Cyprus.



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
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US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.