Zahi Hawass Acquitted of Charges He Illegally Profited from His Position as Minister of Antiquities

I've had bones to pick with Zahi Hawass over the years, but I never thought he was a crook.  He was targeted, I believe, because he was aligned with the Mubarak regime and he was a high-profile personality to many people outside of Egypt by virtue of his television specials and unique style of showmanship.  Wearing a cowboy hat probably didn't endear him to certain Muslim types, either.  So, glad to read this.  Egypt needs Hawass more than Hawass needs Egypt!

Reported at Egypt Independent Online
Zahi Hawass acquitted of illicit gain charges
Wed, 26/02/2014 - 16:29

Al-Masry Al-Youm

Ibrahim al-Heneidy, chairman of the Illicit Gain Authority, has acquitted Zahi Hawass, the former minister of antiquities, of the charges that were filed  against him to that effect.

 

Hawass’s lawyer said reports of the Justice Ministry experts said all income sources of his client proved to be legitimate.

 

He also said the Money Laundering Department received clearance from abroad that Hawass has no bank accounts in foreign countries.

 

Investigation found out that Hawass’s sources of income were from the 43 books he wrote and the lectures he delivered abroad.

 

A number of Ministry of Antiquities employees had filed three complaints against Hawass, accusing him of stealing antiquities and selling them abroad.

 

“The complaints filed against me were all spiteful,” Hawass said. [Yes, I believe they were.]

 

 

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm