/ 11 August 2011

Egypt agriculture minister to go on trial

An agriculture minister who served under ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak will go on trial for unlawfully seizing land, the official MENA news agency reported on Thursday.

Amin Abaza, who is under arrest, will be tried for seizing state land in the Sinai peninsula, home to some of the country’s most lucrative tourist resorts, along with another defendant, businessman Amr Ahmed.

Since Mubarak’s ouster in February after nationwide demonstrations, dozens of former regime officials and police commanders have gone on trial on charges ranging from corruption to the killings of anti-regime protesters.

Mubarak himself faces trial on corruption and murder charges which may lead to his execution if he is convicted. — AFP