Egypt: Shafiq Leaves Country As Corruption Investigation Opens – Report
Ahmed Shafiq, who was beaten in the second round of Egypt’s presidential elections by Islamist Mohammed Morsi, left Egypt on Tuesday with other members of his family. This came hours after the opening of an investigation into corruption cases.
The Attorney General has initiated an investigation into allegations that Ahmed Shafiq had wasted public funds during the eight years he spent as Minister of Civil Aviation at the time of former president, Hosni Mubarak.
According to an airport official, Shafiq Ahmed flew to Abu Dhabi at Tuesday dawn with two of his three daughters and three grandchildren. His campaign manager told “Al-Masry al-Youm” newspaper that the last prime minister of the deposed president Hosni Mubarak left for a short stay, and would return after making a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. He then plans to launch a new political party, clarified the same source.
Several members of the Mubarak regime took refuge in the UAE since the downfall of the former president.
On Monday, Attorney General opened an investigation into allegations of corruption, and according to the Egyptian media, Shafiq was to be questioned in the coming days. During the presidential campaign, he has denied all allegations of corruption directed towards him.
