Egypt's former tourism minister sentenced to five years in prison

Egypt's former tourism minister, Zoheir Garranah, has been sentenced to five years in prison for squandering public funds. The country's criminal court also issued Garranah with a fine after finding the official guilty of allotting tourism licenses illegally.

Garranah is the second official to be given time in prison. The first, former interior minister Habib Al-Adli, was sentenced last week to 12 years after being found guilty for money laundering and profiteering.

News of the sentencing comes amid ongoing investigations of former government officials who had served under ousted president Hosni Mubarak.

Last week, Egyptian authorities announced that Mubarak himself would face the death penalty if found guilty of ordering the shooting of protesters during the uprisings that brought him down. It is estimated that at least 800 protesters were killed during the demonstrations which led to Mubarak's resignation on 11th February.

Sources: BBC News, AFP, Ha'aretz, Voice of America

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