The court found him guilty for squandering public funds and abusing his power for his own benefits by allocating 102 cars held in customs for his own benefits and his friends` interests.
The court ordered Ghali to return 35.791 million Egyptian pounds (some 6 million U.S. dollars) and pay a fine of similar value.
Ghali, who is outside the country, was one of the senior members of the former government found guilty over corruption after former president Hosni Mubarak was forced to step down by the massive anti-regime protests in February. Corruption was among the top complaints of protesters who joined the demonstration.
Ghali was put on trial in April after Egypt`s general prosecutor charged him, together with former prime minister Ahmed Nazif and former interior minister Habib el-Adli, of squandering public funds and profiteering.
In May, Habib el-Adli was sentenced to 12 years in jail, while former tourism minister Zuheir Garranah and housing minister Ahmed al-Maghrabi got five years in prison respectively.(*)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
