Egypt Detains Head Of Industrial Authority

Egypt Detains Head Of Industrial Authority

An Egyptian prosecutor has ordered the detention of the head of the Industrial Development Authority for investigation.

The head of the authority, Ambassador Assal, is the latest official to be held to account after protests questioned official squandering of public wealth.

The state Al Ahram newspaper said he will be held for 15 days, on charges that he gave out a licence without legal merits to Ezz Steel on a factory in Ain el-Sokhna on the Red Sea .

The charges against Assal say he squandered 114 million dollars of public wealth in giving out the licence to Ahmed Ezz, a senior leader in former President Hosni Mubarak's party and chairman of Ezz Steel.

Denial

Ezz himself is also detained, pending trial on suspicion of wasting public funds.

His company said last week that he strongly denied the accusations, alleging that the investigation was a personal matter that would not affect the company's operations.

Assal was not immediately available for comment.

Egypt referred the former interior and tourism ministers to a criminal court.

Former Interior Minister Habib al-Adli was charged with money laundering and profiteering, while former Tourism Minister Zuhair Garana was accused of intentionally damaging public funds and allowing others to benefit financially.

Reuters/NAN/Margaret/Yinka