Farouq Hosni Facing Corruption Charges

.

It is being reported today that the former Egyptian Minister of Culture under Hosni Mubarak, Farouq Hosni is to face accusations that he used his position as goverment minister to illegally amass some LE9 million. Hosni, an abstract painter, had served as culture minister for 23 years. Dozens of legal cases have been filed against Mubarak's associates since he was ousted in an uprising on February 11, 2011.

A number of Mubarak-era ministers have already received substantial prison sentences, including former interior minister Habib El-Adli, former housing ministers Ahmed El-Maghrabi and Ibrahim Soliman, former tourism minister Zuheir Garana, former petroleum minister Sameh Fahmy, and former prime ministers Atef Ebeid and Ahmed Nazif. Other pre-revolution government ministers that currently face trials in absentia include former finance minister Youssef Botrous-Ghali and former trade minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid.

Accusatory bloggers lobbying for the antiquities dealers will no doubt note one name missing from that current list.

Hosni lost his bid to head the United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2009. He blamed a “Zionist lobby” for his defeat after Bulgarian diplomat Irina Bokova won the post. Others fumed that Egypt’s national heritage suffered under Hosni, with many buildings and establishments neglected during his long tenure.In 2010, a painting by Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh valued at more than $50 million was stolen from a museum in central Cairo. Several hours after the theft, Hosni had announced that the painting had been found, but was forced to backtrack later and blamed a ministry employee. The investigation into the theft showed that of 47 surveillance cameras installed in the museum, 30 had not been working since 2006 and that most of the time, only one security guard was on duty. The theft exposed the deplorable security in several Egyptian museums.

The charges against Hosni come a week after Mubarak's last prime minister and former presidential candidate Ahmed Shafik was put on the state's watch list at border points pending investigations over his involvement in an allocation of land to Mubarak's sons, Alaa and Gamal.

Sources:
Ahram Online, 'Mubarak-era culture minister referred to Egypt criminal court', Ahram Online, Tuesday 4 Sep 2012 

AFP, 'Egypt’s ex-minister to face trial', The Nation, September 05, 2012.