20110628
xinhua
CAIRO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian criminal court upheld on Tuesday the decision by the prosecution to sequestrate all the assets of fugitive businessman Hussein Salem, a close associate of former President Hosni Mubarak, state news agency MENA reported.


The decision on sequestrating Salem and all his family members' funds was based on the investigations by the prosecution into charges against him of laundering about 14 million Egyptian pounds (about 2.35 million U.S. dollars).

Salem, an accomplice in the corruption case of Mubarak, was arrested earlier this month in his villa by the Spanish authorities on the island of Majorca.

The Egyptian authorities have sent his file to the Spanish authorities for his extradition to face trial before the Egyptian criminal court together with Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal.

Salem fled Egypt in February after the protests toppled the Mubarak government, and was referred to the criminal court last month by Egyptian general prosecutor with the Mubarak trio.

He was accused of involvement in exporting natural gas to Israel at low prices together with former petroleum minister Sameh Fahmy, squandering state funds and illegally gaining financial benefits for themselves.

He was also accused of giving properties to Mubarak and his sons in exchange for his access to thousands of feddans of state land for his lucrative tourist projects.

The first trial session of Mubarak and his two sons is scheduled on Aug. 3. They were accused of a range of charges, including premeditated murder of protesters during the nationwide anti-government demonstration, misusing presidential power for private gains and profits, and squandering public funds.