Mubarak's ex-chief of staff sentenced to 7 years in jailMay 27, 2012 - 16:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Cairo criminal court on Sunday, May 27, sentenced ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's former chief of staff to seven years in jail on corruption charges, AFP reported quoting a judicial source as saying. Zakaria Azmi was also ordered to pay a fine of 38 million Egyptian pounds (around $6.2 million), the source said. Azmi was jailed last year and put on trial in October, charged with illegal acquisition of funds. An aide to Mubarak since 1989, Azmi was considered an influential figure in the presidency and in the now-dissolved National Democratic Party. He joins a host of former ministers and officials handed jail sentences following a sweeping investigation into corruption after the uprising that ended Mubarak's three decade rule. Mubarak himself faces a verdict on June 2 to determine whether or not he was involved in the killing of protesters during the 18-day revolt. The sentence comes as vote counting is underway in Egypt's first free presidential election, which will see a run-off between Mubarak's last Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, and Mohammed Mursi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood banned under the strongman. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenian delegation participating in NATO PA session The delegation is headed by Andranik Kocharyan, the chairman of the standing committee on defense and security matters. Schengen visa cost won’t change for Armenia – diplomat The increase in the cost of a Schengen visa will not apply to citizens of Armenia, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said. Yeremyan Projects opens state-of-the-art dairy production plant Yeremyan Projects officially launched the Yeremyan Products state-of-the-art milk processing plant in Yerevan on May 24. Armenian PM’s helicopter makes emergency landing in Vanadzor The helicopter transporting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made an emergency landing in Vanadzor. |