Egypt

Ministry of state for antiquities denies Hawass' escape rumours

Ahram Online (Nevine El-Aref)

Today, the criminal court of Agouza acquitted Minister of State for Antiquities Zahi Hawass of the charge issued for not implementing the administration court ruling to put on halt all procedures being taken to rent the cafeteria and the bookstore of the Egyptian museum inTahrir Square. In May of last year, the ministry had rented the cafeteria and bookstore of the Egyptian museum to the Sound and Light Organisation.

Ahram Online (Nevine El-Aref)

Mohamed Ramadan, supervisor of legal affairs at the ministry of state for antiquities, denied today's claims by a national newspaper that the administrative court enforced the ruling issued in April against Zahi Hawass, minister of state for antiquities, sentencing him to one year in jail and a fine of LE1000.

Ramadan explained that this news is incorrect for three reasons; the first is that the criminal court, not the administrative, is the legal authority that would pursue such a case. The second , continued Ramadan, is that the criminal court has delayed reviewing such a case until 15 June and no verdict has yet been issued. The third reason is that the administrative court has cancelled the decision to rent the cafeteria and bookstore of the Egyptian museum to the Sound and Light Organisation, instead re-establish another bidding process to allow all organisations to participate.

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Egypt