Former Menoufia governor sentenced to 10 years in prison for bribery

A criminal court sentenced yesterday former Menoufia Governor Hisham Abdel Basset to 10 years in prison and handed him a EGP 15 mn fine for accepting bribes worth USD 1.5 mn, according to the Associated Press. Abdel Basset has been charged with accepting bribes in return for awarding construction and IT contracts to Egyptian businessman Essam Ahmed Fathi, who was cleared of all charges. The verdict can be appealed.